Porridge | Definition, Types, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

What are the different types of porridge? ›

Porridge is a staple dish in a variety of cuisines around the world. Some examples of different types of porridge include congee, a Chinese rice porridge; kasha, a Russian buckwheat porridge; polenta, an Italian cornmeal porridge; khichari, an Indian rice-and-lentil porridge; and asaro, a Nigerian yam porridge.

It is known as simply "porridge" or, more commonly in the United States and Canada, "oatmeal". In the US, oat and wheat porridge can both be called "hot cereal". Rolled oats are commonly used in England, oatmeal in Scotland and steel-cut oats in Ireland.

Steel-cuts and rolled oats have a lower glycemic index than quick oats, potentially making them the best choices for blood sugar control.

The simplest and biggest difference to tell apart what is a congee and a porridge, is the texture of the rice. The rice in congee is utterly cook to the point it dissolved into a glue-ly / starchy texture. Porridge on the other hand, the rice still retain mostly its shape and have clearly soup / water base.

Surprisingly, oatmeal is a type of porridge. Though all oatmeal is considered porridge, the term porridge does not always refer to oatmeal. Still, the two words are often used interchangeably, which can be confusing. Unlike porridge, oatmeal is always made from rolled, ground, or flattened oats.

Mush – a thick cornmeal pudding or porridge usually boiled in water or milk.

Yes, it is good to eat oatmeal every day considering its nutritional profile and health benefits, including weight control and heart-healthy effect. As a breakfast food and mid-meal snack, oatmeal is potentially a better option than the majority of foods available in the market.

“Eating three portions of wholegrain foods such as porridge every day protects your heart by slashing blood pressure levels,” reported the Daily Express.

Even today, contemporary Chinese medicine still believes there is no better way to start a day than a piping hot bowl of congee, because it helps protect people's stomachs and retain their qi, circulating energy believed to animate bodily functions and maintain the equilibrium in the human body.

Is it OK to eat congee every day? ›

Rich in flavour and filled with the goodness of nutrients, rice congee is the perfect dish to have daily for anyone, especially children who are picky eaters. Introduce your fussy baby to a warm bowl of rice congee topped with the things they love. The delicious dish is also beneficial for your overall well-being.

Meaning of congee in English

Congee may be the most ubiquitous breakfast food in the world, a loose, liquid porridge of rice simmered until it dissolves in hot broth. Congee is a rice-thickened broth to which anything can be added.

grits, a porridge of coarsely ground grain, especially hominy, that is the basis for a popular foodstuff in the American South. It resembles the Italian ground-corn dish called polenta, but the latter is typically made of ground flint corn, which yields a firm cornmeal.

Whole oats are high in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds called polyphenols. Most notable is a unique group of antioxidants called avenanthramides , which are almost solely found in oats. Research has found that avenanthramides may help oxidative stress by increasing the production of nitric oxide gas.

A north Italian porridge made of coarsely ground cornmeal, polenta is wonderfully creamy, with a lightly sweet, buttery corn flavor. Unlike oat porridge, it's not a traditional breakfast food.