I have been able to avoid conflict and controversy all these years on my blog and on social media, until I posted an image of this soup on Instagram a little over a year ago. If you read my recent post on how to get well quickly, you know that I favor homemade broths, ginger, garlic and very digestible foods like soups and rice. In my post how to boost the immune system, Japanese mushrooms are a top food. My assistant Lauren has two little boys who seem to catch every virus at pre-school and she suggested to me that I teach an “immune-boosting soup.” Great idea! So I did last January and in the recipe-testing phase I posted an image on Instagram. Oh man! I offended so many people by calling this an “Immune-Boosting Soup.” To many, this is congee and I disrespected those who eat it by not labeling it as such.
I have had congee many times before and what I know of it is that it is a thick porridge made of very well cooked white rice. The rice is cooked in water or chicken broth for a long time so that the rice really breaks down and the porridge is like oatmeal. If you google “congee” and look at the resulting images, the soup/porridge is very thick. Honestly, I feel as though if I called this congee, just as many people would be offended that my rice soup wasn’t cooked long enough or wasn’t thick enough to be called congee. If you are offended by this post, it is not my intention. I’m just trying to help people make something for their families in the thick of cold and flu season that’s easy, tasty and digestible.
This became a very popular recipe with my students because you can make it in 20 minutes, it’s delicious, and easy for digestion. Remember that white rice is much more digestible than brown. This soup intentionally has no fat or oil for maximum digestibility. You can 100% do what you want with this recipe and I will not be offended. 😉 Feel free to add poached chicken at the end, cilantro, hot sauce, loads more garlic or ginger, even turmeric. And I give you permission to eat this soup even if you’re not sick! xoxo
If you make this soup, please tag me on Instagram with an image of your creation! @pamelasalzman #pamelasalzman
Immune-Boosting Soup + Instant Pot version*
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons or ½ cup if you want more rice white jasmine rice (you can use other types, but jasmine has the best flavor here)
- 3 large cloves of garlic, thinly sliced (feel free to add more - I have added up to 8 cloves)
- 1 ½ - inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled, sliced into thin matchsticks**, about 2 Tablespoons
- Sea salt to taste, according to saltiness of stock (start with ½ teaspoon)
- 3 cups chicken stock or bone broth, preferably homemade (or mushroom stock for a vegan option)
- 4 cups water, or use all broth
- pinch of crushed red pepper, if desired (or see ideas for optional add-ins)
- 2-3 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps wiped clean and sliced (you can also use frozen mushrooms)
- Ideas for optional add-ins:
- Sliced red chiles
- Chili oil
- Sliced scallions, green and white parts
- Chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- Shredded, poached chicken or frozen green peas
Instructions
- Place the rice, garlic, ginger, salt, broth and water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Add crushed red pepper (if using) and mushrooms. Raise heat to bring up to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until rice is super soft. Taste for seasoning. Add optional add-ins at this point and warm through. Serve hot.
Notes
**If you don’t care to eat the ginger, slice it into rounds and remove from the soup before serving.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
This is delicious! I added a squeeze of sriracha and it was perfection.
Good morning! I’m planning to make this recipe tonight — it sounds amazing on this chilly LA day — and I’m wondering how much chicken to add. It’s just for me, my husband and son. Also this is a dumb question, I realize, but how do you cook the chicken before you add it to the soup — just sir fry it in a skillet? Thank you!
The amount of chicken is really up to you and how much you like. For myself and my son, 1 small cooked and shredded chicken breast is plenty. I poach the chicken separately (there’s a blogpost on my site for how to poach chicken) or you can use leftover roasted chicken or a rotisserie chicken shredded. 🙂
We make a very similar recipe and add turkey and peas! We always make congee the day after Thanksgiving – this is what Asians do with leftover turkey lol. Very yummy and comforting… Glad you are sharing it with everyone!
I can’t wait to try this! I tend to stay away from white rice, how would I incorporate brown rice instead? Would the longer cooking time for brown rice be too much cooking time for everything else?
Thank you!
You can use brown rice and yes, you need a longer cooking time. Just keep the pot covered when you cook. All the other ingredients should be fine.
After a week and a half of holiday travel and eating out, everyone is tired and run down. This recipe was a lifesaver for dinner! So quick and easy to make. Served with rotisserie chicken. Excellent for flu season and cold temps. Only note I have… caution on using the quick release. Mine splattered lots of soup during release!
The holidays have wiped everyone out this year! Thanks for the advice about the quick release, I’ll make a note of it!
Can’t wait to try your soup! I had Congee while in China and loved it!
Hope you love it! 🙂
Oh brother. Had to come read your explanation after seeing your Instagram post! Soup looks great and I’m going to make it for my toddler and I this week. Anything to help stop the dreaded sicknesses from other kiddos at our playgroup!
Also, I came upon your website after making your green muffins that were posted on valleybrinkroad.com. I’ve since bought your book and consult your website weekly for meal/dessert ideas and no joke, every single one of your recipes has been a keeper. And I’m probably in the double digits by now… You’ve gotten me excited about cooking again so, thank you!
Hi Lani! Welcome! Thank you for being here and saying hi. I’m so honored you bought my cookbook and I’m thrilled you are loving it! Happy cooking! 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Definitely want to try this! can’t believe people got offended by soup hahaha.
All good!
This sounds fantastic! My husband made a similar soup last week for our daughter who had a bad cold — it definitely seemed to help. The soup, a hot steamy bath, and a hot lemonade with honey…and a shot of bourbon, seem to be the panacea to cure your ills.
I’m excited to try this version to get an extra boost through the winter! I’ll be back to rate it.
P.S. Sorry you have to include a disclaimer about congee. It seems silly that people get so fired up over soup. 😉
Thanks, Jennifer! Can’t wait to hear what you think. Let’s stay healthy this winter!
Can you freeze this soup?
Yes!