腊八粥臘八粥
là bā zhōu laap6 baat3 zuk1
On the eighth day of the last lunar month, temples once ladled out free porridge of eight treasures to mark the Buddha’s enlightenment. Families still simmer whatever beans, grains and dried fruit the pantry holds — winter comfort with a thousand-year history.
The story behind it
Laba (腊八节) falls on the eighth day of the last lunar month and once marked winter sacrifices and the Buddha’s enlightenment after a bowl of milk-rice. Temples in Beijing and Hangzhou still hand out free porridge that morning, and families pickle Laba garlic in vinegar the same day for New Year dumplings.
Ingredients
- 100 g glutinous rice + 50 g regular rice
- 50 g each: red beans, mung beans, peanuts (soaked overnight)
- Handful each: dried longan, red dates, lotus seeds, goji berries
- Rock sugar to taste
Steps
- Bring soaked beans and 2 litres of water to a boil; simmer 40 minutes.
- Add the rice and dried fruit; simmer gently, stirring, 40 minutes more.
- Sweeten with rock sugar and rest 10 minutes — it thickens as it cools.