Congee & Porridge
Old Cucumber, Dried Scallop and Tangerine Peel Congee
Traditionally nourishes yin and clears heat to ease mouth ulcers
Why people make this congee
Mouth ulcers are no big illness, but the moment you try to eat, they sting and nag at you. It’s especially hard on little ones — a child with a mouth ulcer will just cry and refuse to eat. Bro Niu’s answer is a tasty congee that, in the traditional view, clears heat and brings down “fire.” Old cucumber is the gentle hero here, traditionally used to clear heat, ease restlessness, generate fluids and relieve thirst. The congee is meant to nourish yin and cool summer heat, which is why it’s offered to both adults and children with mouth ulcers.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Adults and children with mouth ulcers; traditionally used to nourish yin and clear heat.
- The source mentions it can also help children with a cough and a little runny nose (per Q&A below).
- Serve it warm or at room temperature — Bro Niu warns that cold/chilled congee is hard on the stomach, especially for children.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Old cucumber (lao huang gua): Traditionally used to clear heat, ease restlessness, generate fluids and relieve thirst, and to support urination.
- Dried scallop (yao zhu): Adds savoury depth and gentle nourishment.
- Aged tangerine peel (chen pi): Adds aroma and traditionally supports the digestion, balancing the cucumber’s coolness.
- White rice (bai mi): Makes the smooth congee base that’s easy on a sore mouth.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old cucumber (lao huang gua) | ~300 g (½ catty) | Seed and cut into chunks |
| Dried scallop | 3–4 | Soak and rinse |
| Aged tangerine peel | 1 piece | Soak and rinse |
| White rice | ~75 g (2 taels) | Rinse |
Method
- Seed the old cucumber and cut into chunks. Soak and rinse the dried scallop, tangerine peel and rice.
- Put everything in a pot with water.
- Simmer until you have a smooth, moderately thick congee. Eat as desired.
Bro Niu’s tips
Don’t waste the scooped-out cucumber pulp and juice — it can be applied externally for children’s heat rash, and Bro Niu likes to use it as a gentle skin softener for the face and hands (dab the juice on with cotton wool, massage gently 5–6 minutes, rinse off after about 15 minutes). Soak the hands in the rest.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Jiuli): My daughter is about 18 months and has a mouth ulcer that’s split open; she points at her mouth and cries when she eats. Is just boiling old-cucumber water any use? Bro Niu: Old-cucumber water alone works, but cooking it into a thin congee keeps it in the gut longer, so it’s better absorbed. A plain or meat thin congee with old cucumber both work.
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Q (Connie So): Can a child with a slight cough and runny nose eat this congee (still not fully better after six days of Western medicine, pointing at his mouth in pain)? Bro Niu: Yes, this congee can help clear organ heat. Alternatively, a congee of a few cored ginkgo nuts, a quarter sheet of fresh tofu skin and 6 water chestnuts also works well.
Published August 17, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
