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Lüdou zhou
Lǜdòu zhōu (绿豆粥): northern Chinese rice and mung bean congee
In Beijing and across the north, a pot of lüdou zhou is what families cook on hot summer mornings: plain rice and mung beans simmered until the beans split and the rice turns creamy, believed to cool the body. It is eaten with salty pickled vegetables, a fried dough stick or a spoon of sugar for children. The mistake is putting the rice and beans in together; mung beans need a head start or you get mushy rice with hard beans. Chef's tip: once it is cooked, leave it to stand off the heat with the lid on for 10 minutes; it thickens into a silky congee without extra stirring.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz dried mung beansrinsed
- 3 ½ oz white ricerinsed
- 1.6 litres water
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)to serve
- 2 ⅛ oz Chinese pickled vegetables (optional)to serve
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put 3 ½ oz dried mung beans and 1.6 litres water in a heavy pan, bring to the boil and simmer over a low heat for 20 minutes, until the beans begin to split.
20 minStep 2: Add 3 ½ oz white rice, stir, and bring back to a simmer. Cook half-covered for 30–35 minutes, stirring the bottom now and then, until the rice has broken down and the congee is creamy.
35 minStep 3: Turn off the heat, cover and rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, with 1 tbsp sugar or 2 ⅛ oz Chinese pickled vegetables on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lüdou zhou take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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.
- What can I use instead of white rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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