Crockpot Congee (a.k.a. Chinese Oatmeal)

Congee is not a dish many people are familiar with. It is a (rice-based) porridge that has its origins all throughout Asia. There are no real "rules and regulations" for what you put in your congee. Various countries base their ingredients on what meal they traditionally eat their congee (meats and veggies for supper, various grains and fruits for breakfasts, beans, plain, etc.).

This variation is a delicious and hearty breakfast easily prepared in the crockpot ... which makes it a perfect breakfast for those cold mornings! Why waste money on a fast food breakfast when you can prepare a healthy dish faster than you can get through a drive through window!

Crockpot Congee (Chinese Oatmeal)

Ingredients

• 1 or 2 pears and/or apples, unpeeled
• 2/3 cups oat groats
• 2/3 cup brown rice
• 3/4 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, prunes, etc)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 cups water

Preparation:

Wash and dice the apples (or pears). Place all ingredients into a 6 cup (1.5 quart) crock-pot. Stir and cook on low for 8 hours or overnight. 

Makes 6 cups of cereal.

Be sure to use a smaller (preferably 1.5 or 2 quart) crockpot so your congee does not dry out while cooking!

Try experimenting with the different dried fruits and spices (pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, etc.).