Ba bao zhou
Eight-treasure porridge
Ba bao zhou (八宝粥): Chinese eight-treasure porridge of rice, beans, lotus seeds and dried fruit
Across China, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is Laba, and households and Buddhist temples simmer a big pot of eight-treasure porridge to share: glutinous and black rice cooked slowly with red beans, mung beans, peanuts, lotus seeds, red dates and longan until thick and gently sweet. Beijing families still give bowls to neighbours, and it is a warming winter breakfast all season. A bowl gives about 9 g of protein from the beans, peanuts and lotus seeds, so it is a filling porridge rather than a high-protein one. Soak the beans, peanuts and lotus seeds for at least 4 hours or overnight. The common mistake is putting everything in at once: the rice goes to glue before the beans soften, so the beans get a head start. Chef's tip: add the rock sugar only in the last 10 minutes; sugar added early toughens the bean skins.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
To soak
- 2 ⅛ oz adzuki (red) beans
- 1 ⅜ oz mung beans
- 1 ⅜ oz raw peanutsskins on
- 1 oz dried lotus seeds
- 1 ⅜ oz black rice
For the pot
- 2 ⅛ oz glutinous ricerinsed
- 2 litres water
- 8 dried red dates (jujubes)halved, stones removed
- ⅔ oz dried longan flesh
- 1 tbsp goji berries (optional)
- 2 ⅛ oz rock sugaror to taste
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 2 ⅛ oz adzuki (red) beans, 1 ⅜ oz mung beans, 1 ⅜ oz raw peanuts, 1 oz dried lotus seeds and 1 ⅜ oz black rice, cover with plenty of cold water and soak for at least 4 hours, or overnight. If your lotus seeds have a green germ in the middle, push it out with a toothpick; it is bitter.
Step 2: Drain the soaked mix and put it in a large heavy pot with 2 litres water. Bring to the boil, skim off any foam, then simmer half-covered over a low heat for 40 minutes, until the adzuki beans are just tender.
45 minStep 3: Add 2 ⅛ oz glutinous rice, 8 dried red dates (jujubes) and ⅔ oz dried longan flesh. Simmer for another 40–45 minutes, stirring the bottom of the pot every 5 minutes so it doesn't catch, until the rice has broken down and the porridge is thick and creamy. Add a splash of boiling water if it gets too thick.
45 minStep 4: Stir in 2 ⅛ oz rock sugar and 1 tbsp goji berries, if using, and cook for 10 minutes more, until the sugar has dissolved. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
10 minStep 5: Serve hot. It thickens as it cools; loosen leftovers with a little hot water when reheating. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ba bao zhou take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 105 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of black rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of glutinous rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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