Lotus Seed and Lily Bulb Congee (Liquidised) | IDDSI Level 3 Recipe

IDDSI Level 3 (Liquidised) | 90 minutes (plus soaking) | Easy | Vegetarian

This congee draws on a traditional Chinese medicine food therapy combination: lotus seeds (lian zi, 蓮子) to calm the heart and mind, lily bulbs (bai he, 百合) to moisten the lungs and clear heat, and Job’s tears (yi ren, 薏仁) to strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness. The combination has long been used to support sleep quality and ease mild anxiety in elderly patients. The traditional version contains whole lotus seeds and lily bulb pieces — not safe for IDDSI Level 3 diets. This adaptation blends and sieves all ingredients into a smooth flowing liquid that preserves the flavour and reputed therapeutic properties of the original.

Ingredients (2–3 servings)

• 50g dried lotus seeds (soaked for 4 hours; bitter green embryo removed)
• 30g dried lily bulbs / bai he (soaked for 1 hour)
• 50g Job’s tears / yi ren / coix seeds (soaked for 2 hours)
• 50g white rice
• 1200ml water
• 30–40g rock sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 small pinch of salt

Method

1. Soak lotus seeds in cold water for 4 hours; use a toothpick to remove the bitter green embryo (plumule) from each seed; soak lily bulbs and Job’s tears separately for their respective times
2. Combine all ingredients except rock sugar in a saucepan with 1200ml water; bring to the boil over high heat and skim any foam
3. Reduce to a low simmer; cover and cook for 60–75 minutes until lotus seeds can be crushed effortlessly between two fingers and all grains are completely soft
4. Add rock sugar; stir until dissolved; cook for a further 5 minutes
5. Transfer all contents and liquid to a blender; blend on high speed for 90 seconds until completely smooth
6. Pass through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan; press residue firmly with the back of a spoon; discard all solid residue
7. Return to low heat; add salt and adjust sweetness; warm gently, stirring occasionally
8. Confirm IDDSI Level 3 flowing consistency; add small amounts of hot water if the liquid is too thick

Texture Test

IDDSI Level 3 (Liquidised) confirmation: Tilt a loaded spoon — the liquid should flow slowly and leave a thin milky coating on the back of the spoon. IDDSI syringe test: 1–10ml should flow over 10 seconds. The liquid must be completely free of solid particles.

Safety Notes

⚠️ Remove the lotus seed embryo — the green plumule (heart) inside each lotus seed is intensely bitter and contains alkaloids (liensinine) that may cause discomfort if consumed in quantity; remove every embryo completely using a toothpick before cooking.

⚠️ Ensure full soaking — dried lily bulbs must be fully rehydrated until translucent and pliable before cooking; under-soaked bulbs may not blend smoothly.

⚠️ Job’s tears note — Job’s tears are considered cooling in traditional Chinese medicine; while this is not a contraindication for the typical elderly care home resident, flag it to the medical team for residents with specific constitution concerns.

Sourcing in Hong Kong

• Dried lotus seeds: Wet market Chinese herbal dried goods stalls or PARKnSHOP organic section; choose plump, evenly cream-coloured seeds without yellowing
• Dried lily bulbs (bai he): Chinese herbal medicine stores or wet market dried goods stalls; choose intact, pale cream petals — Guangdong bai he is preferred
• Job’s tears (yi ren): Supermarket dry goods aisle or organic stores; choose large, firm, white grains

Nutrition

Approximately 150 kcal per serving (200ml), 4g protein, 32g carbohydrate. Lotus seeds are rich in potassium and phosphorus, supporting cardiac function; lily bulbs contain colchicine-related compounds with reported anti-inflammatory properties; Job’s tears contain coixenolide, with modern research suggesting immune-modulating effects. Overall, this is a low-fat, easily digestible, mildly sweet liquid well suited to elderly residents with reduced digestive function or poor appetite.