Gruel is simply a kind of liquid food in which oatmeal, rice, etc boiled in milk or water. Traditionally, gruel is a form of meal especially for the poor. It is unsavory and lacks of nutrition.

However, gruel may mean a lot to many Asian countries. Besides from eating rice, gruel can be a substitute as a main source of food in each meal. It is deep rooted and becomes part of the culture in some countries like China. Lots of people were poor during the past and especially during the first and second world war, gruel was valuable source of food to them. Some people boiled water with ground corn while some boiled with rice. As time passes, people pay great attention and become fastidious about cooking gruel. Some families develop their own recipes. Do you know how to make gruel thin, smooth and tasty? You may try this little trick. Some Chinese marinate the rice with oil and salt for some time before cooking. They like serving gruel with fried doughs, rice rolls and noodles. It is a popular type of food especially in breakfast time. Some people now even use gruel as the soup for hot pots. They add sliced assortments such as abalones, scallops, chickens etc.

Gruel means alot to me too. Doctors always suggest eating gruel during sick period because it is easier to be digested. Like many people, my mother cooked rice gruel to me each time I got sick when I was young. I didn't like gruel and I used to eat little. Now, I live separately with my mother. However, I always want to eat gruel when I am sick. It is not because I start liking gruel, but I think that it makes me feel my mom is taking caring of me. It just makes me feel better. That's why for me, gruel is a symbol of LOVE!

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