Congees
Winter Melon and Adzuki Bean Porridge
Winter Melon and Adzuki Bean Porridge is a classic Chinese medicinal congee, made with winter melon and adzuki beans as the main ingredients. Winter melon is slightly cold in nature, sweet and bland in taste, and channels to the Lung, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians. It is known for promoting diuresis, reducing edema, and moistening the lungs and promoting salivation. Adzuki beans are neutral in nature, sweet and sour in taste, and channel to the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. They are known for strengthening the spleen, draining dampness, promoting diuresis, reducing edema, clearing heat, and detoxifying. Together, they achieve the combined effects of promoting urination, reducing edema, relieving heat toxicity, and quenching thirst. The porridge is light and smooth, with soft winter melon and creamy adzuki beans. This porridge is especially suitable for daily nourishment of those with edema, scanty urine, summer heat and thirst, and damp-heat constitution.
Main Ingredients
- Winter melon 500g
- Adzuki beans 30g
- Japonica rice 60g
- Salt To taste
- Fresh ginger 3 slices
- Water 1500ml
Steps
Rinse the adzuki beans and soak in plenty of water for at least 2 hours (or overnight in the refrigerator). Adzuki beans are hard and require thorough soaking to soften and cook evenly.
Winter melon: Scrub the melon clean and cut into 2-3 cm chunks with the skin on. The skin has significant diuretic effects and is recommended to keep. Japonica rice: Rinse and soak for 30 minutes in advance. Ginger (if using): Peel and slice.
Place the soaked adzuki beans and japonica rice into a clay pot or rice cooker. Add enough water (approx. 1000-1500ml). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
When the adzuki beans begin to split and the rice grains bloom (about 30-40 minutes), add the winter melon chunks and ginger slices (if using). Continue simmering over low heat for another 20-30 minutes, until the winter melon becomes translucent and soft.
Add salt to taste before turning off the heat. Use little or no salt, as salt may reduce the diuretic effect. For a sweet version, add rock sugar to taste.
TCM Notes
Modern Nutrition Research: Diuretic and anti-edema: Trigonelline in winter melon and saponins in adzuki beans work synergistically to promote sodium excretion, effectively expelling excess water from the body and relieving edema and scanty urine. Clearing summer heat: Winter melon is cold in nature, clearing heat and promoting salivation. Adzuki beans clear heat and detoxify. Together, they effectively relieve summer heat and thirst. Weight management support: 丙醇二酸 in winter melon inhibits the conversion of sugars into fat. Adzuki beans are rich in dietary fiber, increasing satiety. Together, they support weight management. Electrolyte balance: Winter melon is rich in potassium, helping to regulate water-salt balance. Combined with the diuretic effect of adzuki beans, this helps alleviate edema. Metabolism support: The potassium combination in adzuki beans and winter melon helps balance electrolytes and promote metabolism.
Suitable for：Those with edema, swelling, and scanty urine Those with summer heat, thirst, and loss of appetite Those with damp-heat constitution (yellow greasy tongue coating, heavy body feeling) Those who are overweight or need to control caloric intake Those with acute nephritis edema and oliguria (adjunctive dietary therapy) Generally suitable for most people as a summer wellness dish
Not suitable for：Those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold (cold abdominal pain, loose stools): Winter melon is cold and may worsen symptoms Those with chronic nephritis and spleen-kidney deficiency-cold: Not recommended Those with kidney yang deficiency: May worsen cold sensitivity symptoms Those with frequent urination or excessive nighttime urination: The diuretic effect may worsen symptoms Those with renal insufficiency: Risk of hyperkalemia Those taking diuretic medications: Should wait 2 hours before consuming Women during menstruation: Recommend substituting adzuki beans with red beans Those allergic to winter melon or adzuki beans
