Thai Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Jok
Silky Thai rice congee simmered until the grains dissolve into a creamy, comforting porridge, served with ginger strips, a soft egg, and crispy garlic — warmth in a bowl.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Good to know
- One-pot
Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: one-pot dinners
Instructions
7 steps- 1
Combine the rice with the water or stock in a pot and bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer.
- 2
Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 35 to 45 minutes, until the grains break down completely into a thick, creamy porridge, adding more liquid if it thickens too much.
- 3
Meanwhile, mix the ground pork with soy sauce and white pepper and roll into small, loose meatballs.
- 4
When the congee is silky and the rice has fully dissolved, drop in the seasoned pork and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until just cooked through.
- 5
Crack the egg directly into the simmering congee, either stirring it through for a silky egg-drop texture or leaving it whole to poach gently on top.
- 6
Ladle the congee into a bowl and scatter with ginger matchsticks, fried garlic and its oil, cilantro, and scallion.
- 7
Season at the table with a splash of fish sauce and a dusting of white pepper to taste.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
67/100
Works for many families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving245
Calories
10 g
Protein
38 g
Carbs
5 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Jok is the Thai version of rice congee, a smooth savory porridge of broken jasmine rice simmered until the grains dissolve into silky comfort. It is classic breakfast and sickbed food across Thailand, sold from morning carts topped with pork meatballs, a raw egg cracked in to cook in the heat, ginger, and fried garlic. Where Chinese congee can be more textured, jok is prized for being cooked down until almost completely smooth.
Listahan note
This version simmers the rice low and slow until it breaks down into a velvety porridge, then lets each bowl be topped to taste. It keeps the toppings modular so a family can build mild or bold bowls from the same pot.
Technique cues
- Stir the porridge often as it simmers so the rice breaks down evenly and does not catch on the bottom.
- Crack the raw egg into the hot porridge at the table so it gently poaches into silky threads.
- Finish each bowl with fried garlic oil and white pepper at serving, since those aromatics fade if stirred in early.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Roll the pork meatballs and slice the aromatics while the rice simmers down into porridge.
- Make-ahead
- Cook the base porridge a day ahead, then reheat with extra water and add fresh toppings at serving.
- Leftover move
- Thin leftover jok with broth and stir in any leftover cooked meat for a fast next-day breakfast.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Soak the porridge pot immediately, since dried rice starch is far harder to scrub off later.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
jasmine rice
porridge base
Purpose: Jasmine rice simmered long enough collapses into the smooth, comforting body of jok.
Handling: Rinse and, for a smoother result, lightly crack the grains or simmer extra long.
Adaptation: Broken rice or any short-grain rice breaks down even faster.
ground pork
protein topping
Purpose: Small pork meatballs add savory bite to the smooth porridge.
Handling: Season and roll into tiny balls, then poach in the simmering porridge.
Adaptation: Ground chicken or soft tofu cubes work for a lighter or vegetarian bowl.
eggs
richness
Purpose: A raw egg stirred into the hot porridge enriches it into something silky and custardy.
Handling: Crack into the bowl and stir through the steaming porridge to cook gently.
Adaptation: Omit for an egg-free bowl, or use a soft poached egg on the side.
ginger
aromatic
Purpose: Slivered ginger gives the warm, clean note that makes jok feel restorative.
Handling: Cut into fine matchsticks and pile on top of each bowl.
Adaptation: Ground ginger stirred into the pot works at a pinch.
fried garlic
aromatic finish
Purpose: Crisp fried garlic and its oil add toasty crunch and fragrance on top.
Handling: Fry sliced garlic slowly in oil until golden, reserving the oil too.
Adaptation: Store-bought fried garlic saves time with similar flavor.
green onions
fresh garnish
Purpose: Green onions add a fresh, mild bite against the rich porridge.
Handling: Slice thin and scatter over just before eating.
Adaptation: Cilantro offers a similar fresh lift.
Technique notes
- Add water as it cooks down to keep the porridge loose, because jok thickens dramatically as it sits.
- Season the base lightly and let the toppings carry the punch so each bowl can be tuned at the table.
- Reheat with extra liquid since cold jok sets nearly solid and needs loosening back to a pourable texture.
Ingredient swaps
- Vegetarian direction
- Skip the pork and egg, simmer in vegetable broth, and top with tofu and extra fried garlic.
- Gluten-free direction
- Naturally gluten-free; just use tamari if you add a soy seasoning at the table.
- Egg-free direction
- Leave out the raw egg and lean on the pork meatballs and ginger for richness.
Serve alongside
- You tiao (fried dough sticks)
- Soft-boiled eggs
- Pickled ginger
- Chili-vinegar on the side
- Hot soy milk
- Jasmine tea
- Black coffee
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Refrigerate the base up to three days, where it will set thick. Reheat with plenty of added water or broth, stirring until smooth, and add fresh toppings after. Freezing works for the plain base; thaw and re-thin with liquid, though the texture loosens slightly.
Equipment
- Heavy-bottomed pot
- Wooden spoon
- Fine grater or sharp knife
- Small frying pan for the garlic
Make this household-aware
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