A little about this dish
Let's dive into a delightful brunch twist on a Chinese favorite – Congee, with an added dash of summer seasonality. The star of this dish will be the shrimp, complemented by crispy summer corn and fresh garden herbs. Though rooted in Chinese tradition, this recipe adds a touch of innovation to your brunch table without becoming too predictable.
Ingredients (for 4)
- Shrimp — 1 lb — peeled, deveined
- Fresh sweet summer corn — 2 ears
- Jasmine rice — 1 cup
- Fresh ginger — 2 tablespoons — minced
- Garlic — 2 cloves — minced
- Chicken or vegetable broth — 6 cups
- Shaoxing wine — 4 tablespoons
- White pepper powder — 1/2 teaspoon
- Green onions — 1/4 cup — finely chopped
- Fresh cilantro — 1/2 cup — roughly chopped
- Sesame oil — 2 teaspoons
- Salt — to taste
- Vegetable oil — 3 tablespoons
- Red chili oil — for drizzle
Preparation
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Step 1 — 💧🍚🔄Wash the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in cold water for 30 mins and then drain.
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Step 2 — 🍳🔥🧄Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Sauté the minced ginger and garlic until fragrant.
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Step 3 — 🍚🥘⏲️Add the drained rice to the pot. Stir in the broth, Shaoxing wine, and white pepper powder. Reduce the heat to low, put the lid on, and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent rice from sticking.
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Step 4 — 🌽🍤🔥While the congee is cooking, slice the fresh sweet corn off the cob and sauté the kernels in the remaining vegetable oil over high heat until golden and crispy. Season the shrimp with salt and sesame oil, and sauté in the same pan, adding a bit more oil if needed, until they turn pink and curled.
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Step 5 — 🍲🌽🍤To serve, ladle the congee into bowls, then top each with an equal share of crispy corn, sautéed shrimp, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and green onions. Finish with a drizzle of chili oil and a pinch of salt if needed.
A final fox tip
Traditionally, congee is a breakfast dish but we've repurposed it for brunch. For a final flourish, you might add other seasonal veggies or a soft-poached egg. Kids can help with topping the congee and putting final touches. Remember, the fun is in the customization!