Soups Recipes - Rice Porridge (Congee) Recipe

Ingredients

• 900ml/3 3/4 cups vegetable stock

• 200g/7oz/1 3/4 cups cooked rice

• 225g/8oz minced (ground) pork

• 15ml/1 tbsp fish sauce

• 2 heads pickled garlic, finely chopped

• 1 celery stick, finely diced

• salt and ground black pepper

To garnish:

• 30ml/2 tbsp groundnut (peanut) oil

• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 4 small red shallots, finely sliced

Serves 2

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Method:

1. Make the garnishes by heating the groundnut oil in a frying pan and cooking the garlic and shallots over a low heat until brown. Drain well on kitchen paper and reserve for the soup.

2. Pour the stock into a large pan. Bring to the boil and add the rice.

3. Season the minced pork Add it by taking small teaspoons and tapping the spoon on the side of the pan so that the meat falls into the soup in small lumps.

4. Stir in the fish sauce and pickled garlic and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the pork is cooked. Stir in the celery.

5. Serve the rice porridge in individual warmed bowls. Sprinkle the prepared garlic and shallots on top and season with plenty of ground pepper.

Note: Originating in China, this dish has now spread through much of Asia and is loved for its comforting blandness. It is invariably served, though with a' few strongly flavored accompaniments.