Winter Kanji (Congee)

A Slow-Simmered Rice Porridge

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice

• 6 cups water

• 6 cups broth of choice

• 4 tablespoons butter or ghee

• Salt, to taste

Method

• Add the rice, water, broth, butter or ghee, and salt to a large pot.

• Bring everything to a boil.

• Reduce the heat to a very low simmer.

• Let it cook gently for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

The rice should fully break down into a thick, silky porridge. If it becomes too thick at any point, add hot water to loosen it. Taste and adjust salt before serving.

Serve warm.

A Simple Pot, A Long Tradition

Kanji, also known as congee, is a rice porridge found across Indian and many Asian food traditions, often eaten during illness, recovery, seasonal transitions, or times of deep fatigue. It’s not fast food. It’s slow food in the truest sense. Once everything goes into the pot, the heat is lowered and the dish is allowed to rest, soften, and transform.

The long simmer does most of the work. Time replaces technique.

This version, enriched with butter or ghee and broth, is especially suited for colder months when the body benefits from warmth, moisture, and grounding nourishment.

Why Kanji Is So Supportive

Enjoying kanji or congee regularly can offer several gentle benefits:

• Hydration from the inside out
  The extended cooking time infuses the rice with water and minerals, making hydration easier to absorb and retain.

• Cleansing without stress
  Kanji gives digestion a break while still providing nourishment, allowing the body to clear waste without feeling depleted.

• Grounding and calming
  Warm, soft, lightly salted foods help settle the nervous system, making kanji especially supportive during winter, stress, or recovery.

• Easy digestion
  Fully cooked rice is one of the most digestible foods available, making this porridge ideal when appetite is low or digestion feels fragile.

How to Enjoy

Kanji is best eaten:

• Warm

• Slowly

• Without distraction

It can be enjoyed on its own or as a base for simple additions like cooked vegetables, soft herbs, or gentle spices. During a cleanse or reset, it often works beautifully as a standalone meal.

A Bowl That Listens

Kanji doesn’t rush you.
It doesn’t overwhelm digestion.
It doesn’t demand complexity.

It meets the body where it is and offers exactly what’s needed: warmth, hydration, and steadiness. In a season that asks us to slow down, this rice porridge quietly shows us how.

Sometimes the most powerful nourishment comes from the simplest pot on the stove.