Thanksgiving Turkey Congee

4.7
(6)

My dad used to make huge Thanksgiving dinners, and the morning after, we would be treated to delicious turkey congee. Congee is a Chinese rice porridge traditionally eaten for breakfast or brunch, but I personally eat it any time. It is also very good for digestion and has excellent health benefits. Although I've been having congee since I was a baby, it remains for me the ultimate comfort food.

2
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup dried scallops

  • 3 dried black mushrooms

  • 1 ½ cups uncooked short-grain white rice

  • ½ leftover turkey carcass, broken into pieces

  • 9 cups water

Toppings:

  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped

  • ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh ginger

  • ¼ cup raw peanuts

  • 2 tablespoons dried red onion

  • 8 dashes sesame oil

  • ground white pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Place dried scallops and dried mushrooms in a bowl; pour in hot water to cover and let stand to rehydrate, about 10 minutes. Rinse and drain rice; set aside.

  2. Separate any meat from bones of turkey carcass; set aside. Place bones and 9 cups hot water in a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Drain mushrooms and scallops; squeeze out any excess water. Break scallops into smaller pieces; slice mushrooms thinly.

  3. Stir scallops, mushrooms, rice, and turkey meat into the stockpot; reduce heat to allow congee to simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally for a smooth congee, until rice is tender and congee is thick, about 2 hours. If you like a thinner congee, stir in hot water a few tablespoons at a time.

  4. Ladle congee into individual bowls; top each bowl with cilantro, green onions, ginger, peanuts, red onion, sesame oil, and white pepper as desired.

Cook's Notes:

Congee is both a very basic and very forgiving meal to make. There are many varieties, and after you have made it a few times, you will develop a preference for the water-to-rice ratio, add-ons, toppings, and seasonings. The ratio I put in this recipe makes a thicker congee, which I prefer, but you can always make it thinner. (It is easier to thin it out as you are cooking than the reverse!)

Note that you can leave the bones in the pot while you ladle out the congee.

If you have an Asian market near you, you can also buy fried doughnuts (also called fried crullers) to serve with the congee.

Leftover congee will thicken, so when you reheat it the next day, you can stir in a tiny bit of water if desired.

Look for the dried red onions mentioned in the Toppings in Asian markets or the International aisle of the supermarket.

25 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

201 Calories
4g Fat
35g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 201
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 35mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 6g 12%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 239mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.