Congee with Vegetables and Fresh Herbs

• 1 cup long-grain brown rice, soaked in 3 cups of water overnight
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised (see page 155)
• 7 cups vegetable or chicken stock or water
• Salt
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 bunch bok choy, trimmed and finely diced
• 2 scallions, green and white parts, thinly sliced
• 1 large handful fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted peanuts or almonds
• Soy sauce for serving
• Sesame oil for serving
• Red pepper flakes for serving

1. Drain the rice and place it in a large pot with the sweet potato.
2. Cut the lemongrass stalks in half horizontally and add them to the pot.
3. Add the stock and 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil.
4. Decrease the heat and simmer, covered, for 35 minutes.
5. Remove the lid and increase the heat so the rice is bubbling.
6. Remove the lemongrass and discard.
7. Simmer, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking, until the rice is tender and has the consistency of a thick porridge, about 15 minutes more.
8. Add the ginger in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
9. Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
10. Add the bok choy and cook until tender and wilted, about 4 minutes.
11. Season with salt and remove from the heat.
12. To serve, put the bok choy, scallions, cilantro, and nuts into small bowls.
13. Ladle the porridge into bowls and let diners garnish it with the vegetables, nuts, soy sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
14. We know that brown rice has more nutrients than white rice, but aside from health concerns, white rice is put through many stages of processing, all requiring fossil fuels and chemicals.
15. First, the germ and bran are removed to extend the length of time the rice can be stored; then synthetic vitamins are added back in; and finally, the rice is polished with water, glucose, or the mineral talc, which is known to cause stomach cancer.
16. The taste of brown rice can take some getting used to, but cooked with fragrant seasonings like the ones in the congee recipe, it can please even the pickiest of palates.

longgrain brown rice, sweet potato, stalks lemongrass, vegetable, salt, fresh ginger, olive oil, bok choy, scallions, handful fresh cilantro, peanuts, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/congee-with-vegetables-and-fresh-herbs-381358 (may not work)