How to make Rice Congee with Pork Meatballs like Hawker Fare

Congee sounded like an intimidating food to make, but in reality it was quite easy and a favorite recipe! I ended up making this two days in a row, that’s how great it was.

Congee is a rice porridge that you can add any variety of toppings on. Rice and water are the main components but after a trip to the local farmers market or grocery store, I am sure you will be inspired to try new and exciting things to add in this. While this may seem like a great winter recipe, I had this in the dead-heat of summer on 95 degree day and absolutely loved it!

Cookbook – Hawker Fare

Recipe – Rice Congee with Pork Meatballs and Fried Garlic Oil

Ingredients –

• 5 oz ground pork
• 1 tbsp Gold Mountain seasoning sauce
• pinch of pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp sliced scallions
• 1 quart of water
• 3 slices of ginger
• 1/2 cup jasmine rice
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• For the top:
  • Cilantro
  • Scallions
  • Garlic
  • Oil

Tools Used:

• Pot
• Pan
• Mixing Bowl

Step 1 – Prep the pork meatballs

First thing to make is the meatballs! In a mixing bowl, combine the pork, seasoning sauce, pepper, salt and scallions together. Set aside while you make the rice.

Step 2 – Start on the rice

Place the slices of ginger in the pot of water on the stove. Boil this over high heat and then add the rice.

Once the rice is added, turn the heat down to have it simmering. Set a timer for 20 minutes and then add the pork meatballs directly into the pot of rice.

Step 3 – Combine meatballs and rice

They will take another 15 minutes to cook, and then add the fish sauce. Mix everything together in the pot.

Step 4 – Toppings!

It is now ready to take out and add toppings! Put some cilantro, scallions, and fried garlic oil (take two chopped cloves of garlic and add to a pan of three tablespoons of oil on high heat; garlic will take about 5 min to get crispy) on top. Soy sauce and the Gold Mountain seasoning sauce were also great additions.

Ratings are below!

• Difficulty of ingredients to find – 3/5 stars – A trip to the store should work for most ingredients, but had to go to an Asian market for the Gold Mountain seasoning
• Perceived difficulty going into the recipe – 2/5 stars – Was originally intimidated by the recipe
• Difficulty after recipe – 1/5 stars – Really a lot easier than I thought it would be!
• Time taken – 2/5 stars – Less than 1 hour total
• Taste – 5/5 stars – Great comfort food that was fun to put toppings on
• Make again? 5/5 stars – Already made this again the next day!