Kosmic Kitchen’s Saffron Coconut Congee

This slightly sweet and satisfying rice porridge is the perfect breakfast on a cool morning. A staple dish in China and throughout Asia, congee is mixed with traditionally medicinal herbs like astragalus root and cooked into the porridge as a way of eating your medicine through an easy-to-digest meal. Astragalus is a chi tonic that helps to strengthen the digestive system and supports the immune system, which makes it great to help ward off sickness in the cooler months. Top your congee bowl with your favorite stewed fruits, toasted nuts or seeds, and a sprinkle of warming spices like cardamom or cinnamon. 

SAFFRON COCONUT CONGEE INGREDIENTS

1 cup rice (we like basmati, but brown rice works too)6-8 cups water 4-6 sticks dried astragalus root, optional 2-3 tablespoons Saffron Latte Powder 

Toppings: 

Stewed fruit such as apples, pears, berries Toasted seeds such as sunflower, walnuts, cashews Pinch of cardamom or cinnamon 

SAFFRON COCONUT CONGEE ASSEMBLY

1 | Add the rice, water, and astragalus to a medium pot. 2 | Bring to a boil on medium high heat, then reduce to low and let simmer for at least 2 hours. (If time permits, consider cooking for 2-6 hours, since the longer the congee cooks, the more medicinal it becomes. You can also prepare the congee in your slow cooker by combining the ingredients and cooking at the low setting for 6-8 hours.)3 | Remove astragalus sticks and stir in the Saffron Latte Powder just before serving, adjusting to get the desired flavor. 4 | Ladle congee into bowls with toppings of your choice and serve hot. *Serves 4-6.  **You know your body best! When using any new herbs, be smart, listen to your body, and consult your healthcare practitioner before use.Sarah and Summer of The Kosmic Kitchen are herbalists, cooks, and authors who believe the kitchen is a sanctuary -- a place that nourishes, feeds creativity, and makes magic. Their mission is to bring plant medicine (the people's medicine) back into the forefront. Through online workshops, herbal consultations, and retreats their hope is to make kitchens Kosmic worldwide, so that every human has a fundamental understanding of their bodies and can experience the incredible magic of plants. Their first published cookbook with Roost Books, is out in June of 2020. Find them on Instagram at @thekosmickitchen.