Teochew Porridge

Ingredients

Rice

1 cup, rinsed

Water

8 cups

Salt

1 teaspoon

Ginger

3 slices

Garlic

2 cloves, smashed

Sesame oil

2 tablespoons

Chopped scallions

1/4 cup, for garnish

Fried shallots

1/4 cup, for garnish

Soy sauce

to taste, for serving

Fried anchovies

to taste, for serving

Salted vegetables

to taste, for serving

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
2. In a large pot, combine the rinsed rice, water, salt, ginger slices, and smashed garlic. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 1 hour. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom and add more water if needed to achieve your desired consistency.
4. After an hour, the rice should have broken down, resulting in a thick and creamy porridge. Remove the slices of ginger and garlic from the pot.
5. Stir in the sesame oil and mix well.
6. Serve the Teochew porridge hot, garnished with chopped scallions, fried shallots, and your choice of fried anchovies and salted vegetables. Drizzle with soy sauce to taste.
7. For a complete meal, consider pairing it with side dishes like braised tofu, steamed fish, pickled vegetables, or preserved eggs.