
Chicken Quinoa Congee
One-Potmeals.com Main Dishes Chicken Quinoa Congee ChineseIngredients
Congee
2 Chicken Breasts
8 cups Water
1 cup Long Grain Brown rice (rinsed)
1/2 cup Quinoa (rinsed)
1 teaspoon Salt
GARNISH
1/4 tsp Soy sauce
pinch White pepper
1/4 tsp Sesame oil
1/4 tsp Sriracha
Toasted Cashews
Green Onions
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving | ||
---|---|---|
Calories | 202 | |
% Daily Value* | ||
Fat 9g | 14% | |
Carbohydrates 25.1g | 8% | |
Fiber 1.8g | 7% | |
Sugar 1g | ||
Protein 6.5g | 13% | |
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Estimated values based on one serving size. |
Instructions
Add the water into the Instant Pot
Add the salt and chicken breasts
Mix in the rinsed quinoa and brown rice
Pressure Cook for 30 minutes
Allow mixture to depressurize naturally (Do not quick release or the congee will splatter)
Remove the chicken and shred for garnish
Stir the congee (if it's still too watery, saute it on medium until it reaches your desired consistency)
Place shredded chicken on top of the congee and garnish with soy sauce, white pepper, sesame oil, Sriracha, toasted cashews, and green onions
Instant Pot Chicken Quinoa Congee
This chicken quinoa congee recipe is a healthy spin on the traditional Chinese congee (also known as Jook). Congee is an ancient traditional porridge made from white rice cooked with lots of water or chicken stock. The rice essentially slow-cooks until it breaks down forming a starchy thick porridge. Congee is considered a comfort food as it's made with simple wholesome ingredients that can be easily digested. When you're sick or your stomach is upset congee is an automatic go-to remedy - think of it as Asian "chicken soup".
Apart from water and white rice, there isn't much to congee other than what you add into it for flavor, and it's not an especially nutrient-rich dish. We decided to make a healthier version of this classic dish using a mixture of long-grain brown rice and quinoa.
Using the brown rice maintains the taste, texture, and consistency of the standard white-rice congee but is higher in fiber, protein, and nutrients. Quinoa while not a typical ingredient in traditional congee, adds another element to the texture and consistency of this dish. Health-wise quinoa is a fantastic addition to this congee recipe. Similar to brown rice, quinoa is high in fiber and protein but is also a good source of iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and selenium. This edible seed has a very mild taste and can absorb the flavor of whatever it's cooked with making it a perfect companion to the brown rice.
Traditional congee is made by slow-cooking the rice for a long time until the grain breaks down resulting in the thick starchy consistency. Depending on the batch size, this can sometimes take a few hours using a stockpot on the stove and requires constant monitoring and stirring so that the rice doesn't burn on the bottom of the pot. It's often considered a laborious and time-consuming dish to make. With the introduction of one-pot pressure cookers like the Instant Pot Duo or Ninja Foodi, a large pot of this rich and hearty congee can now be made in just 30 minutes! It's a fast, easy, walk-away meal you can prep in large amounts to be enjoyed by the whole family. It also reheats well and is a great meal prep option to be enjoyed later in the week.
What's so great about this congee recipe is its versatility. The brown rice and quinoa act as a simple base and there are so many flavor variations you can add to it. Use chicken, turkey, or pork for flavor, then shred the meat and mix it into the congee or serve on top as garnish. Add in some vegetables like peas, carrots or corn for added color and texture. Season with soy sauce, white pepper, sesame oil, and hot sauce to suit your tastes. Throw in some peanuts or cashews for added crunch and garnish with green onions. There really is no limit to the combinations you can make with this simple yet healthy and wholesome congee recipe. Try this recipe and it's sure to be a dish your family with love.
Notes
- Do not manually release the pressure after pressure cooking is complete or else the congee will splatter out of the venting knob
- You can also make the congee with chicken or turkey bones for added flavor- make sure to remove the bones after pressure cooking
- For a healthier option, add in some vegetables like peas, carrots, or corn
- This recipe was made using an Instant Pot Duo, a multi-use programmable cooker that can pressure cook, saute, slow cook, steam, warm and also make yogurt and rice.
- You could also make this recipe with the Ninja Foodi, a programmable multi-use pressure cooker that can also steam, saute, slow cook, dehydrate, bake, broil, roast and air crisp
- If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can make this recipe on the stove. Place the congee ingredients into a large Stockpot and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour and a half stirring every 5-10 minutes until it reaches desired consistency
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