Top 15 Delicious and Easy-to-Make Porridges

Eels are considered a valuable medicinal food with numerous health benefits, such as relieving joint pain, treating malnutrition, and soothing back pain. However, pregnant women should avoid consuming eel due to its potent energizing properties.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg eel
• 150g regular rice
• 100g glutinous rice
• 2 tablespoons annatto oil
• 2 tablespoons seasoning powder
• 1 tablespoon turmeric juice
• 2 tablespoons seasoning cubes
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• Spring onions, Vietnamese coriander, and shallots.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the eel with salt to remove its slime, then boil until cooked and set aside to cool.
• Step 2: Separate the meat from the bones, stir-fry the meat with seasonings, and boil the bones to extract the broth.
• Step 3: Wash the rice, cook it with the eel broth, and add 2 tablespoons of seasoning powder.
• Step 4: Sauté the shallots with oil, and when the porridge is almost ready, add the shallots, annatto oil, turmeric juice, and chili powder. Let it simmer for 2 more minutes before turning off the heat.
• Step 5: Serve the porridge with the stir-fried eel meat, garnished with chopped spring onions and Vietnamese coriander.

Not only delicious, but also packed with nutrients, especially beneficial for women’s health conditions.

Ingredients:

• 300g carp
• 200g regular rice
• 75g mung beans
• Fish sauce, salt, cooking oil, shallots, ginger, spring onions, dill.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Clean the carp, remove scales and guts, then boil with ginger and dill to eliminate the fishy smell.
• Step 2: After the fish is cooked, separate the meat from the bones. Use a blender to extract the fish bone broth, and marinate the fish meat with fish sauce, pepper, and seasoning for 5 minutes.
• Step 3: Rinse the rice and mung beans, then add them to a pot with water and the fish bone broth, along with a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until the porridge thickens.
• Step 4: Once the porridge is done, add the marinated fish and stir. Season again to taste and then turn off the heat.
• Step 5: Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve your nutritious carp porridge.

This dish not only entices with the simple, earthy flavor of the countryside, but also serves as a highly nutritious meal, rich in vitamins, especially calcium.

Ingredients:

• 300g regular rice
• 500g freshwater crabs
• 50g shallots
• Spring onions, dill, fried dough sticks, seasonings, fish sauce, chili, pepper.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the rice, soak for an hour, then crush the rice grains.
• Step 2: Clean the crabs, remove the shells and aprons, separate the crab roe. Crush the crabs with a pinch of salt and extract the crab juice.
• Step 3: Boil the crab juice until the crab meat forms a scum, then reduce heat and remove the crab meat.
• Step 4: Gradually add the crushed rice to the boiling crab water, stirring constantly to prevent clumping until the rice expands.
• Step 5: When the rice is fully expanded, uncover the pot, lower the heat, season the porridge, and cook for another 25 minutes.
• Step 6: Thinly slice the shallots, fry them in oil until golden, then add the crab roe and sauté until fragrant. Add the crab meat, season with fish sauce, and simmer for about 10 minutes for the flavors to meld.
• Step 7: Garnish with chopped spring onions and dill.

With its sweet and salty flavor, cooling properties, and ability to improve digestion, relieve heat, and detoxify the body, Hue-style clam porridge is not only delicious but also highly nutritious.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg clams
• 150g lean pork shoulder
• 30g shallots
• 150g regular rice
• 50g glutinous rice
• 2 chilies, dill, spring onions, cooking oil, pepper, salt, seasoning powder.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Soak the clams in rice water, then rinse them thoroughly.
• Step 2: Boil the clams with a pinch of salt until they open, then remove the meat from the shells.
• Step 3: Let the clam broth settle, discard the sediment, and season the cleaned clams with pepper, seasoning powder, and salt.
• Step 4: Fry the shallots until golden, then add the clams and stir-fry until firm.
• Step 5: Mince the pork, season with pepper, salt, seasoning powder, and shallots, then stir-fry until cooked.
• Step 6: Rinse the rice and cook it in the clam broth until soft, then add the clam and pork mixture, stirring gently until it boils. Let it simmer to your preferred consistency.
• Step 7: Wash and chop the spring onions, dill, and coriander. Sprinkle the herbs on top of the porridge when serving.

Oyster porridge is known for its ability to treat insomnia, making it a great choice for those who suffer from sleepless nights. Additionally, it is beneficial for kidney health and can help strengthen vitality, making it an ideal dish for men.

Ingredients:

• 5 oysters
• 200g regular rice
• 50g glutinous rice
• 1/2 carrot
• 200g straw mushrooms
• 150g lotus seeds
• Garlic, ginger, Vietnamese coriander, bean sprouts, seasoning powder, pepper, and other common spices.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Clean the oysters, then soak them in ice water until the shells open. Remove the meat and chop it into 3-4 pieces.
• Step 2: Mince the garlic and ginger, dice the carrot, and rinse the mushrooms in saltwater before draining them.
• Step 3: Sauté the garlic and ginger until fragrant, then add the oysters and stir-fry on high heat until the oyster meat firms up, then remove from heat.
• Step 4: Cook the rice in 2.5 liters of water. Once the porridge softens, add the lotus seeds and carrots. Once the porridge, lotus seeds, and carrots are cooked, add the mushrooms, seasoning powder, salt, and sugar. Wait until the mushrooms are cooked, and it's ready to serve.

Duck porridge is often considered a nourishing dish with the ability to balance the internal organs, expel heat, and replenish energy. Additionally, it is packed with essential vitamins like B1, B2, calcium, and iron, making it a great choice for expectant mothers.

Ingredients:

• 150g regular rice
• 500g duck meat
• Fresh herbs, cilantro, spring onions
• Salt, seasoning powder, pepper, shallots, ginger.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the rice thoroughly and soak for 20 minutes. Rub the duck with salt, ginger, and rice wine for about 15 minutes, then boil for 5 minutes and rinse it under cold water.
• Step 2: Place the duck back in the pot with some ginger slices and chopped shallots, then boil until cooked through. Remove the duck from the pot.
• Step 3: Add the rice into the duck broth, bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the rice is tender. Once the duck is cool, shred the meat and add it back into the pot to cook with the porridge.
• Step 4: Serve the porridge in bowls, adding salt, seasoning powder, pepper, fresh herbs, and cilantro for flavor.

Clam porridge is not only a nourishing dish for pregnant women but also a powerful health booster, benefiting the liver, eyes, and elderly, as well as providing essential nutrients like calcium and collagen. It's a perfect blend of food and medicine!

Ingredients:

• 150g regular rice
• 50g sticky rice
• 2 shallots
• 1 piece of ginger
• 1 lemon
• 2 chili peppers
• Fish sauce, spring onions, cilantro, pepper, salt, cooking oil, monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the rice and cook with 500ml of water until soft, then remove from the heat.
• Step 2: Soak the clams in rice water for 6 hours, then boil them until the shells open. Remove the clam meat from the shells.
• Step 3: Clean the clam meat, then chop it into small pieces. Add shallots, crushed pepper, fish sauce, salt, and MSG, and marinate for 15-20 minutes.
• Step 4: Fry the shallots until slightly golden, then add the marinated clam meat and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes before removing from heat.
• Step 5: Once the porridge is cooked, add the clams and simmer for 15 minutes. Finish by adding pepper, fish sauce, ginger, spring onions, and cilantro. Stir well, and the clam porridge is ready to serve!

Minced meat porridge is a common dish in daily life. It's versatile, perfect for any meal, and especially beneficial for patients or young children looking to boost their health.

Ingredients:

• 1 pig's trotter (cleaned)
• 100g rice flour
• 5-10 pieces of fried dough sticks
• 10-15 quail eggs
• 3-4 black fungus mushrooms
• Seasoning powder, fish sauce
• Cooking oil, shallots.

Instructions:

• Step 1: After cleaning the pig's trotter, rub it with coarse salt to remove any odor. Place it in a pot and simmer until tender, keeping the broth separate. Shred the meat and finely chop it. (The trotter meat is tender and contains cartilage, which adds a nice crunch to the porridge). Soak and chop the black fungus mushrooms.
• Step 2: Strain the broth to remove any bone fragments. Gradually pour the broth into the rice flour while stirring to avoid clumps. Add the rice flour mixture into the pot of broth and stir well. (Be sure not to add the flour when the broth is too hot, or it will form clumps.)
• Step 3: Sauté chopped shallots in a little oil, then add the minced meat and chopped black fungus. Season to taste. Set aside.
• Step 4: Return the broth to the stove and stir continuously until the mixture thickens and becomes clear. Add the sautéed meat and stir evenly.
• Step 5: Serve the porridge in bowls, garnished with crispy fried shallots, hot dough sticks, quail eggs, and fresh herbs. Add a sprinkle of pepper, and enjoy your hot, hearty minced meat porridge!

Fish Porridge is a nutritious dish rich in Vitamin D, playing a key role in ensuring sufficient calcium and phosphate for bone growth and strength, helping bones stay strong and healthy for the long term.

Ingredients:

• 700g snakehead fish
• 1 bowl of good quality rice
• Shallots, Vietnamese coriander, dill
• Seasoning: fish sauce, monosodium glutamate, pepper, chili.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Clean the fish and rinse it with a bit of alcohol to remove the fishy smell, then marinate it with some seasoning. Add the fish to a pot, add a smashed ginger root, and cook until the fish is done.
• Step 2: Once the fish is cooked, let it cool slightly, then remove the meat from the bones, being careful to discard any bones. Keep the fish stock to cook the porridge, and optionally blend the fish bones to extract more stock.
• Step 3: Rinse the rice and add it to the fish stock in a pot. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the rice is soft and the porridge thickens. If the porridge becomes too thick, add more water as needed. Chop the shallots, Vietnamese coriander, and dill.
• Step 4: Fry sliced shallots in oil until golden and crisp, then set them aside on paper towels. Sauté ginger and chopped shallots with a bit of oil, then add the fish meat to stir-fry. You can add more seasoning to taste.
• Step 5: Once the porridge is cooked and soft, adjust the seasoning, then stir in the sautéed fish meat. Remove from heat. Serve the porridge in bowls, topping with fried shallots, fish, fresh herbs, and a dash of pepper. Enjoy!

Shrimp and Mushroom Porridge is an easy-to-make dish with ingredients that are readily available in local markets and supermarkets, making it a great option for busy families. Unlike ready-made porridge from the market, homemade porridge is both cheaper and more nutritious due to the use of fresh ingredients.

Ingredients:

• High-quality rice
• Shelled shrimp: 150-200g
• Enoki mushrooms (or other types like straw mushrooms or snow fungus): 200g; 1 shallot
• Turmeric powder: 1 teaspoon; herbs such as cilantro, dill, and Vietnamese coriander: a small bunch
• Seasoning, fish sauce, seasoning powder, monosodium glutamate, cooking oil.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 45-60 minutes. After soaking, drain the rice and place it in a pressure cooker, cooking on low heat until the rice expands and softens. Peel and clean the shrimp, then grind it coarsely using a mortar and pestle.
• Step 2: Sauté the chopped shallot in oil until fragrant. Add the shrimp, seasoning with fish sauce and turmeric powder, and stir-fry until the shrimp turns firm. Remove the cooked shrimp and set it aside in a small bowl.
• Step 3: Trim the enoki mushrooms by cutting off the stems, then cut them into halves or thirds. Rinse them in water and set them aside to drain. When the rice is fully cooked and soft, transfer it to a smaller pot and cook for another 4-5 minutes, adding seasoning to taste. Once the porridge reaches the right consistency, add the shrimp and stir well.
• Step 4: Just before serving, add the mushrooms and stir again. Chop the herbs into small pieces and season with a pinch of monosodium glutamate. Remove from heat and serve the porridge in bowls, garnishing with the herbs and enjoying it hot. This fragrant and flavorful shrimp and mushroom porridge is now ready to serve!

Pigeon and Lotus Seed Porridge is a highly nutritious dish, perfect for the growth and development of children. The tender pigeon meat, rich in nutrients, paired with the earthy flavor of lotus seeds and the aroma of shiitake mushrooms, creates a delightful and irresistible porridge that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

Ingredients:

• 200g glutinous rice
• 150g regular rice
• 200g green beans
• 30 lotus seeds
• 3 shallots
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• A handful of coriander
• Seasoning powder, fish sauce
• Several shiitake mushrooms

Instructions:

• Step 1: Start by preparing the pigeon. Be sure not to cut its throat as the blood is very nutritious. Pluck the feathers carefully (do not dip it in hot water like chicken, pluck it while it is still fresh). After cleaning, skewer the pigeon and roast it over the fire to burn off any remaining feathers, giving it a fragrant aroma. Then clean the pigeon again, removing the internal organs and discarding the lungs, intestines, and other waste parts. Keep only the gizzard, heart, liver, and eggs. Be careful not to dirty the meat while gutting the pigeon. After cleaning the gizzards, wash them with salt several times until clean. Separate the meat from the legs and thighs, chop it into small pieces, and marinate with pepper, seasoning powder, and fish sauce to let the flavors soak in.
• Step 2: Rinse the glutinous rice, regular rice, green beans, and lotus seeds thoroughly to remove dirt and impurities. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water to soften, then clean them. In a pot, combine the rice, lotus seeds, green beans, mushrooms, and pigeon bones with about 1 liter of water. Cover and simmer on low heat for 30-40 minutes until the porridge is soft and well-cooked.
• Step 3: Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the chopped shallots until fragrant. Add the chopped pigeon meat and stir-fry until it is just cooked. When the porridge is ready, add half of the cooked pigeon meat into the pot and continue simmering for another 5-7 minutes to let the flavors meld together. Set aside the remaining meat to add to the porridge later. After the porridge has finished cooking, remove the bones, lotus seeds, and shiitake mushrooms. Mash or blend them and mix thoroughly with the porridge.
• Step 4: Finally, adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve the porridge in bowls, topping with the remaining pigeon meat for a beautiful presentation. Enjoy your delicious and nourishing pigeon and lotus seed porridge!

The health benefits of lotus seeds are well known—they not only promote overall health but also help maintain a good figure. However, if you don’t know how to cook lotus seed porridge properly, it could turn bitter, ruining the dish entirely. To fully enjoy the nourishing qualities of lotus seeds, it's essential to master the art of making this flavorful and healthy porridge.

Ingredients:

• 140g regular rice
• 65g glutinous rice
• 250g fresh lotus seeds
• 200g lean pork
• 1 carrot (about 70g)
• 4 eggs
• 1 shallot
• Chopped green onions
• 1/2 tablespoon cooking oil
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, sugar, monosodium glutamate, fish sauce, seasoning powder, chili

Instructions:

• Step 1: Clean the rice by mixing the regular and glutinous rice together, then rinse them thoroughly. Mince the pork after washing it. Clean the lotus seeds by removing the bitter core, and cut the seeds in half. Peel and dice the carrot into small cubes.
• Step 2: Marinate the minced pork with 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and a pinch of pepper. Optionally, add fried shallots for extra flavor. In a separate pot, add the lotus seeds to warm water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Once it boils, skim off the foam and simmer for 5 minutes until the lotus seeds are tender. To boil the eggs, place them in 1 liter of water, stirring gently to avoid the yolks sticking to one side. Continue stirring for 1 minute after the water boils.
• Step 3: In a pot, add 1.5 liters of water. Once it boils, add the rice and skim off any floating impurities. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 whole shallot, and 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil. The oil will prevent the porridge from boiling over and help it cook faster. Cover the pot, bring the heat to high, and let it boil for 1-2 minutes before turning off the heat. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then bring it to a boil again. Stir the porridge occasionally to avoid burning.
• Step 4: After the porridge has been cooking for about 15 minutes, add the diced carrot and boiled lotus seeds. Pour in about 800ml of water, adjusting the amount depending on whether you prefer thicker or thinner porridge. Stir well and add 3 pieces of rock sugar (about 15g). Once the water boils and the sugar dissolves, scoop out a small amount of porridge into the marinated pork and add 125ml of cold water. Stir gently to break up the pork without clumping. Add the pork back into the pot, stirring to blend it into the porridge. Once the porridge has thickened to your desired consistency, season with monosodium glutamate, seasoning powder, and pepper, then turn off the heat.
• Step 5: Serve the porridge in bowls, garnishing with sliced chili, chopped green onions, and a boiled egg. Optionally, add fish sauce to taste for extra flavor. Enjoy!

Mushrooms are not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. They help detoxify the body, enhance immunity, fight aging, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases. Here's how to prepare this nutritious and flavorful mushroom porridge:

Ingredients:

• 100g regular rice
• 50g glutinous rice
• 5 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 50g oyster mushrooms
• 50g straw mushrooms
• 100g green mung beans (with skins)
• Small amounts of shallots, green onions, salt, seasoning powder, pepper, and cooking oil

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the regular rice, glutinous rice, and mung beans. Cook them with 400ml of water until soft.
• Step 2: Chop the green onions finely. Soak the straw mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms in saltwater, then wash and slice them into small pieces.
• Step 3: Fry the chopped shallots in oil until golden, then divide them into two portions. Stir-fry one portion with the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
• Step 4: When the porridge is almost ready, add the sautéed mushrooms and stir. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
• Step 5: Serve the porridge in bowls, topping with the remaining fried shallots and chopped green onions. Enjoy your meal!

People with high blood pressure, diabetes, liver diseases, or fatty liver should avoid this dish as it may increase the risk of heart attack. However, it is highly nutritious and beneficial for pregnant women, underweight individuals, and children over 5 years old.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 can of rice
• 8 balut (fertilized duck eggs)
• Some green onions, shallots, ginger, pepper, seasoning powder, and cooking oil

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the rice and cook it with 500ml of water to make a simple porridge.
• Step 2: Crack the eggs into a bowl, add finely chopped ginger, chopped green onions, and julienned shallots.
• Step 3: Once the porridge is almost cooked, add the eggs and let them cook through. Then, season with ginger, seasoning powder, and a drizzle of cooking oil.
• Step 4: Serve the porridge in bowls, garnished with green onions, shallots, and a sprinkle of pepper. Your delicious balut porridge is ready to enjoy!

Similar to vegetarian mushroom porridge, this chicken and shiitake mushroom porridge offers extra nutrition thanks to the addition of tender chicken, making it even more nourishing.

Ingredients:

• 30 grams chicken meat
• 30 grams straw mushrooms
• 70 grams rice
• 300 ml water
• Some cooking oil, shallots, and seasonings

Instructions:

• Step 1: Rinse the rice thoroughly and cook it to make porridge.
• Step 2: Soak the shiitake mushrooms in salty water, rinse, and chop them finely.
• Step 3: Slice the chicken into small pieces, then stir-fry it with the mushrooms, adding seasonings to taste.
• Step 4: Once the porridge is cooked, add the chicken and mushroom mixture, and bring it back to a boil.
• Step 5: Stir in a small spoonful of cooking oil and mix well. Your delicious chicken and shiitake mushroom porridge is ready!