Pine Nut Congee

Why people make this congee

Pine nuts are fragrant and sweet, warm in nature, and traditionally valued for nourishing the liver and kidneys and gently lubricating the lungs and intestines. They’re a lovely choice for older people, whose weaker abdominal and bowel muscles — or simply low fluids — can make them prone to dryness and constipation. Bro Niu notes that cold soups or cooling drinks won’t help that kind of dryness and can even make it worse. This warm, lubricating congee is traditionally turned to for the constipation of weakness, habitual constipation, and dryness from low fluids.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Older adults, and anyone with dry, sluggish constipation or a dry throat and dry cough with little or no phlegm. Children can have it too.
• Do not add honey for babies under 12 months. Pine nuts have crept up in price, so beware of stalls advertising a low price that turns out to be for a half-pound.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Pine nuts (song zi ren): Traditionally used to nourish liver and kidney and to gently lubricate the lungs and bowel.
• Rice (bai mi): A soothing base; glutinous rice makes it even smoother.
• Honey (feng mi): Adds gentle lubrication and natural sweetness.

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Pine nuts (song zi ren)	~37.5 g
White rice	~57 g	Glutinous rice is even better
Honey	to taste	Not for infants under 12 months

Method

1. Add the pine nuts and rice to water and simmer into a thin congee.
2. Stir in honey to taste and serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This congee is tasty and best taken warm — on an empty stomach in the morning and again before bed. It also suits people with a dry, ticklish cough that brings up little or no phlegm, or a dry throat.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Yvonne): My three-year-old eats very few vegetables and is constipated, with hard, painful stools. Can she have pine nuts? As congee? How? Bro Niu: Yes — simmer about 1 tablespoon of pine nuts into a congee, or dry-roast them as a snack. You can also buy prune (Western plum) juice from the supermarket and give a cup a day; it relieves constipation quickly.
• Q (Bobo): Should I use white or brown rock sugar? Can I use honey instead? Bro Niu: Brown rock sugar is fine, or honey works too.
• Q (Doris): My mum is over 80 and often constipated — does pine nut congee help, and must it be eaten daily? Raw or ready-to-eat nuts? Bro Niu: Pine nuts themselves help lubricate the bowel and suit older people. Cooking them into congee clears the gut and helps absorption. She can simply eat some pine nuts each day.

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Published January 28, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.