Food & Receipts

The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Delicious Teochew Porridge: Capturing the Authentic Flavor of the Chinese Dish for Your Family

"Chinese herbal porridge, or 'Cháo Tiều', is a tantalizing treat with its unique, robust flavor and tender pork bits. The hearty aroma of this porridge is irresistible, especially with the tender, sweet braised pork belly. Join us in the kitchen as we show you how to prepare this flavorful congee, a true delight for all senses!"

Administrator

17 July, 2024

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Servings: 4

Cháo Tiều, or Teochew porridge, is a famous delicacy of the Teochew people, introduced to Vietnam in the early 20th century. At first glance, it may seem similar to regular pork offal porridge, but subtle differences in preparation and ingredients create a unique flavor profile. Learn how to cook this delicious dish with us today!

1 Ingredients for Cháo Tiều

200g pork offal (heart, liver, and kidneys)
40g pork intestines
500g pork bones
300g lean pork meat
500g rice
500g glutinous rice
300g ginger
200g wood ear mushrooms
100g rice paddy herb
100g scallions
Spices: salt, pepper, fish sauce, sugar, MSG, and scallion oil

Ingredients for Cháo Tiều

2 Cooking Instructions for Cháo Tiều

Step 1 Prepare the Pork Offal

Rinse the heart, liver, and kidneys thoroughly. Rub them with salt, then rinse again and cut into small pieces.

To remove any unpleasant odors from the offal, place the intestines in a large container. Add flour or rice flour and mix well, allowing the flour to absorb any impurities for about 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly afterward.

Preparing pork offal

Step 2 Mix Rice and Cook Bones

Combine the rice, glutinous rice, and half a teaspoon of cooking oil. Add the pork bones and 2.5 liters of water, then simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.

Mixing rice and cooking bones

Step 3 Marinate the Pork Meat

For the minced pork, mix it with one chopped scallion, 1.5 teaspoons of seasoning powder, 1/3 teaspoon of MSG, one teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil, 1/3 teaspoon of pepper, and one teaspoon of fried scallions. Form the mixture into small balls.

Marinating pork meat

Step 4 Prepare Other Ingredients

Clean the wood ear mushrooms, then cut them in half. Soak the mushrooms in a bowl of water mixed with a teaspoon of salt for about 10 minutes to remove any dirt and keep them white.

Peel and cut the ginger into two parts. Finely chop one part, and slice the other. Chop two shallots and one scallion.

Preparing other ingredients

Step 5 Boil the Meat

Add the heart, liver, four shallots, and ginger to the porridge pot. Season with a teaspoon of salt and two teaspoons of seasoning powder, then stir and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Add the kidneys and continue simmering for another 7 minutes. Remove the heart, liver, and kidneys from the pot and place them in a bowl of cold water. Cut them into slices.

Boiling meat

Step 6 Sauté the Mushrooms

Heat a tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan. Fry the shallots until fragrant, then add the mushrooms. Season with a teaspoon of seasoning powder and sauté for 2-3 minutes until the mushrooms are cooked.

Sautéing mushrooms

Step 7 Finalize and Serve

Add the meat balls and sautéed mushrooms to the porridge pot. Season with two tablespoons of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/3 teaspoon of MSG. Stir well and turn off the heat.

In a serving bowl, place the rice paddy herb, sliced meat, sliced ginger, and chopped scallions. Ladle the porridge into the bowl and sprinkle with pepper to taste.

Cháo Tiều – final product

3 Enjoy Your Cháo Tiều

Enjoying Cháo Tiều

Cháo Tiều is a delightful dish with a soft and smooth porridge base. The offal adds a chewy texture and a subtle sweetness, while the pepper and ginger provide a spicy kick. All these flavors come together to create a warm and comforting meal, perfect for rainy days.

This is the authentic recipe for Cháo Tiều, a Teochew specialty. While it may require a bit of effort and a variety of ingredients, the final product is a delicious and nutritious treat. Give it a try!