Easy Overnight Instant Wellness Porridge (八宝粥）

This Easy Overnight Instant Wellness Porridge is my favorite go to for a glowing skin!

Why you'll love this recipe

Nutrient Dense: Packed with fiber from beans, protein from peanuts, and natural vitamins from red dates, this is a complete "wellness bowl" in one go.
Texture Play: The long cook time breaks down the rice into a creamy base while the lotus seeds and peanuts maintain a soft, satisfying bite.
Set and Forget: Using the Instant Pot’s porridge mode means you can prep it in minutes and wake up to a steaming, aromatic breakfast.

Key Ingredients

Azuki Beans: These provide the signature red hue and a nutty, earthy base that thickens as it cooks.

Red Dates & Goji Berries: These act as natural sweeteners and are prized in traditional wellness for supporting blood circulation.
Glutinous Rice: The "glue" of the porridge; it provides the silky, thick consistency that makes Ba Bao Zhou so satisfying.

✅Quick Tips: For an even creamier texture, let the porridge sit on the "Keep Warm" setting for at least 2 hours after the pressure cooking finishes.

Key Steps

#1: The Long Soak. Cook on Porridge/Stew mode to ensure the beans and lotus seeds are buttery soft.
#2: Natural Release. Let the pressure drop naturally to keep the grains from exploding and maintain a smooth texture.
#3: Sweeten at the End. Add the rock sugar and goji berries last to preserve the berries' bright color and adjust sweetness perfectly.

Prep Time 2 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 8 hrs 42 mins

Cooking Method: Vegetables

Courses: Breakfast, Desserts, Rice

Servings: 6

Description

A traditional Chinese "Eight Treasure" porridge made effortless in the Instant Pot, featuring a rich blend of azuki beans, red dates, lotus seeds, and peanuts.

Ingredients

2 cups Azuki beans
1 cup Rice (Glutinous, white, or brown)
1 cup Raw peanuts
1 cup Red dates
1/2 cup Lotus seeds
4 cups Water (adjust for desired thickness)

Finishing Touch:

1/4 cup Dried goji berries
1 large piece Rock sugar (to taste)

Instructions

1
Rinse the azuki beans, rice, peanuts, red dates, and lotus seeds thoroughly in cold water. And soak Azuki beans in water for over 8 hours
2
Add all rinsed ingredients into the Instant Pot and add 4 cups of water.
3
Set the Instant Pot to Porridge or Stew mode and cook for 40 minutes on high pressure.
4
Allow the pressure to release naturally; for best results, let it sit on "Keep Warm" for 2+ hours or overnight.
5
Stir in the dried goji berries and rock sugar while the porridge is still hot.
6
Mix until the rock sugar is completely melted and serve warm.