Chinese Porridge (Congee or Jook)

What can you do with all those turkey bones left over from your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? Chinese congee or jook (Cantonese) is an excellent dish to make with those bones and leftover meat. Scrumptious and delicious meal for breakfast or lunch. Serve with chopped green onions and a deep-fried breadstick or donut (can be purchased frozen or get it from the deli at the Asian market where they sell dim sum).

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 hr
• Total Time: 5 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 2469 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 2 slices fresh ginger root
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce, or more to taste
• 5 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 8 cups water, divided, or as needed
• 1 leftover turkey carcass
• 1 piece Chinese salted turnip
• 16 ounces flat dried bean curd
• ¼ cup shelled raw peanuts

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place rice into a container and cover with several inches of cool water; let soak 8 hours to overnight. Drain.

Step 2

Soak dried mushrooms in a bowl of warm water until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain and slice into strips.

Step 3

Bring 4 cups water and drained rice to a boil in a pot. Cook until rice breaks down into a thick and mushy consistency, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a slow cooker.

Step 4

Bring 4 cups water and turkey carcass to a boil in a large pot. Simmer until broth forms, about 45 minutes. Skim fat from the surface of the broth.

Step 5

Strain turkey broth into the slow cooker. Pull meat off the carcass and shred; transfer to a bowl. Mix in soy sauce. Discard turkey bones.

Step 6

Stir mushrooms, 1 cup boiling water, garlic, salted turnip, and ginger into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 4 to 5 hours.

Step 7

Soak dried bean curd in a bowl of warm water until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with running water. Break up bean curd into bite-sized pieces.

Step 8

Stir bean curd pieces into the slow cooker. Cook on High for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 9

Spoon congee into individual bowls. Top with 2 tablespoons of turkey meat and peanuts.