Thai Jok

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup jasmine rice
• 6 cups water or chicken stock
• 200g ground pork
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp light soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 4 eggs
• 2 tbsp fried garlic
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, for garnish
• Extra white pepper, for serving

Before you cook

• Rinse the jasmine rice and pulse it briefly in a food processor to break the grains slightly.
• Mince the garlic.
• Mix the ground pork with the minced garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, white pepper and cornstarch in a bowl.
• Shape the seasoned pork into small meatballs.

Steps

1. Bring the water or stock to a boil in a large pot.
2. Stir in the rice.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes, until the rice breaks down into a thick porridge.
4. Drop the pork meatballs into the porridge.
5. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.
6. Bring a separate small pot of water to a gentle boil.
7. Lower the eggs into the water and cook for 6 minutes for a soft-boiled set.
8. Transfer the eggs to cold water, then peel them.
9. Ladle the porridge into bowls.
10. Top each bowl with a soft-boiled egg.
11. Scatter fried garlic, scallions, cilantro and grated ginger over the top.
12. Serve with extra white pepper at the table.