Laba Congee

Laba congee, also called Eight Treasure Congee, is a Chinese ceremonial congee dish eaten during Laba Festival.

It is mainly made up of many kinds of rice, beans, peanuts, corns, dried fruit, lotus seeds, etc.

The congee was originally served in Ancient India to commemorate Buddha who had his enlightenment at the age of 35 and later became a Chinese tradition since Song Dynasty.

Recipe for Laba Congee:

Ingredients: gluten rice 150 g, mung bean 25 g, red bean 25 g, cashew nut 25 g, peanut 25 g, longan 25 g, red date 25 g, 1 piece of dried orange peel and rock sugar 75 g.

Step 1: wash and soak all ingredients (except the sugar) in water till soft

Step 2: boil them for 30 min

Step 3: add sugar

Laba Garlics

Laba garlic is another traditional food people make on Laba Festival. It is especially popular in Northern China.

The garlic tastes sour and slightly spicy and got its green from the reaction between alliinase and vinegar.

Recipe for Laba garlic:

Ingredients: Garlic 1,000 g, rice vinegar 500 g

Step 1: remove the peel of garlic, then wash and dry it

Step 2:put dried garlic in a clean clay pot or a glass pot

Step 3:pour the vinegar inside till it reaches above the garlic

Step 4:cover the pot with lid and put it in an environment of 10 to 15 ℃ with sunlight for 10 days

Step 5:move the pot to cool place and enjoy the garlic!