An Amazing Family-Friendly Instant Pot Congee Recipe For Kiddos

Hello, All Them Hats readers! It’s Ava here, and today, I’m excited to share a recipe that’s not only delicious and nutritious but also perfect for getting your little ones involved in the kitchen. Congee, a comforting and versatile rice porridge, is a dish that my family and I have come to love. The best part is that each step is easy enough for kids to take part in, making it a fun and educational experience for everyone.

Prep Time: 5 minutes 
Cook Time: 15 minutes 
Chill Time: 2 hours 
Total Time: 1 hour 
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 (rice) cup jasmine rice
• 6 cups water (up to 6 water line on the Instant Pot Liner)
• 5-6 chicken drumsticks
• 1 piece (~1 tbsp) of ginger, sliced into strips
• Salt, white pepper and soy sauce to taste

Optional toppings: green onions, chopped cilantro, fried shallots, soft-boiled egg, crushed peanuts, soy sauce, sesame oil, or anything else you fancy!

Items You’ll Need

• Instant Pot: A versatile and easy-to-use electric pressure cooker that’s perfect for making congee quickly and efficiently.
• Jasmine Rice: A fragrant, long-grain rice variety that’s ideal for making congee.
• Rice Washing Bowl: No more wasted rice down the drain with this excellent rice washing bowl!
• Rice Paddle: A non-stick paddle that’s helpful for stirring and serving congee.
• Soy Sauce: A staple condiment that adds depth of flavor to the congee.
• Sesame Oil: A fragrant oil that can be drizzled over the congee for added flavor.
• Set of Bowls: A set of attractive bowls to serve the congee in, making the experience more enjoyable.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measuring tools for kids to help with measuring the rice and water.

Instructions:

Prep the ingredients:

This is the perfect opportunity for your kids to help. Give them the task of measuring the rice and water with your supervision. Meanwhile, you can peel and slice the ginger.

Rinse the rice: In a fine-mesh strainer, have your children rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This step helps to remove excess starch and prevent the congee from becoming too sticky/starchy.

Combine and cook in the Instant Pot: In the Instant Pot, ask your kids to carefully pour in the rinsed rice, cold water, and ginger slices. For safety, make sure an adult puts the raw chicken drumsticks into the Instant Pot. Close the lid, set the valve to “sealing,” and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally (~15 minutes), then open the lid carefully.

Shred chicken: remove chicken drumsticks with tongs and separate the meat from the bones and skin (it should fall off the bones). Shred the chicken meat with forks.

Taste and season: Once the congee has reached the perfect consistency (if too watery, heat up using sauté mode), remove the ginger slices and give it a taste. This is a great chance for your little ones to participate in the seasoning process. With your guidance, let them add a pinch of salt, pepper or a splash of soy sauce to enhance the flavor to your liking. Add back the shredded chicken meat.

Set up a toppings bar: Encourage creativity and personalization by setting up a toppings bar with a variety of ingredients. You can prepare the toppings while the congee is cooking, and let your kids choose their favorites. Some popular choices include chopped green onions, cilantro, fried shallots, crushed peanuts, and soft-boiled eggs. Don’t forget to add a drizzle of sesame oil for extra flavor!

Serve and enjoy: Once everyone has added their favorite toppings, it’s time to gather around the table and enjoy your homemade congee as a family. This is a great moment to chat about your cooking experience and savor the delicious results of your teamwork.

There you have it – a kid-friendly Instant Pot congee recipe perfect for involving your little ones in the kitchen. Not only will you create a quick, easy and delicious meal, but you’ll also make memories that will last a lifetime. Happy cooking, and until next time, keep wearing all them hats!