Jok (Thai Rice Porridge)

The Thai rice porridge known as Jok is as comforting as it is nourishing. Whether enjoyed as a hearty breakfast or a soothing meal when you're feeling under the weather, this simple yet flavorful dish will warm you from the inside out.

Jok (pronounced "joke") is Thailand’s take on rice porridge or congee.

My Thai husband introduced it to me as a dish that’s easy on the stomach—perfect as a mild breakfast option, for young kids or the elderly, and especially soothing when you’re feeling under the weather. Before trying it, I imagined jok to be a thin, bland rice soup - something akin to a dry piece of toast. Fortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Jok is fantastically flavorful, warm, and incredibly comforting.

Jok is made from jasmine rice that is simmered until it reaches a creamy, oatmeal-like consistency. In Thailand, jok is often cooked over charcoal, imparting a subtle smoky aroma. Once the porridge is ready, it’s ladled into bowls and topped with an array of flavorful additions, such as pork meatballs, a soft-boiled egg, thinly sliced ginger, green onions, and a sprinkle of white pepper powder and thin soy sauce.

Why You'll Love Jok

• Simple Ingredients: Jok is made from easy-to-find ingredients like rice, pork, ginger, and green onion. It is seasoned with Thai pantry essentials including fish sauce (nam pla) and thin soy sauce.
• Easy to Digest: Its soft texture and mild flavors make Jok a soothing option for everyone, especially the young, elderly, and those who aren't feeling well.
• Comforting and Nourishing: The warm, creamy texture of jok makes it the ultimate comfort food. It's also packed with nutrients from the rice and protein from the pork.
• Easily Customizable: With a variety of toppings and seasonings to choose from, you can customize Jok to taste exactly how you want it to.

Ingredients

• Jasmine Rice: The main ingredient in Jok is jasmine rice. More details on selecting the right type are below.
• Ground Pork: While jok can be made with any protein, pork is the most common choice in Thailand. You can add seasoned ground pork (moo sap / หมูสับ) or pork meatballs (moo deng / หมูเด้ง).
• Fish Sauce and Thin Soy Sauce: These essential Thai seasonings flavor both the meatballs and the rice porridge. Thin soy sauce is often served as a topping as well, allowing diners to adjust the flavor of their own serving.
• Garlic, Cilantro Root, and White Pepper: This trio is pounded together to create a "meat marinade" for seasoning the pork meatballs. If cilantro root isn’t available, substitute with cilantro stems or omit it entirely.
• Green Onion and Ginger: These fresh herbs are classic toppings for Jok, adding a pop of flavor and brightness to the dish.

See recipe card for full information.

Broken Jasmine Rice

While regular jasmine rice can be used, broken jasmine rice is the best for making jok. 

Broken jasmine rice is the rice that is fractured during the milling process.  These grains are generally thought to be lesser than whole jasmine rice grains, so are separated out and sold as a different product.  Once cooked, they become more mushy than regular jasmine rice, making them perfect for jok.

Broken jasmine rice can often be found at Asian markets and it's also available on Amazon (affiliate link: Broken Jasmine Rice).

How to Make Jok

Although Jok takes more than an hour to make, it’s surprisingly simple to prepare. Once you’ve rinsed the rice and shaped the meatballs, most of the process involves patiently waiting for the rice to cook. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Add broken jasmine rice to a large pot and rinse until the water runs clear. Add at least 6 cups of water and bring to a gentle boil. Once the rice has reached a boil, turn the heat down to medium low.

Step 2: Make pork meatballs by pounding garlic, cilantro root, and white pepper in a mortar and pestle. Add the ground pork, fish sauce and soy sauce, and form into balls. Add to the cooking rice porridge.

Step 3: Allow the rice and meatballs to cook for at least 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes and adding additional water as needed. The longer it cooks, the more water you will need, and the creamier the consistency will be.

Step 4: Once the Jok is as creamy as you like, add thin soy sauce and fish sauce. Taste and adjust as needed, then remove from the heat.

Step 5: To make soft boiled eggs, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add eggs, then turn the heat off and add a lid. Allow to sit for 6 minutes, then place the eggs in cold water.

Step 6: Scoop single servings of jok with pork meatballs into bowls. Top the bowls of jok with your preferred toppings. See below for common topping choices.

Toppings for Jok

Jok is delicious on its own, but adding toppings takes it to the next level. Some common topping options include:

• Green onion
• Thinly sliced ginger
• White pepper powder
• Thin soy sauce
• Pork meatballs
• Boiled liver
• Soft-boiled egg

These toppings are typically mixed into the Jok before eating, allowing each person to customize their own bowl. You can add the toppings you like and skip the ones you don't. If you're eating Jok for breakfast, it's often paired with Pa Thong Ko, a deep-fried dough similar to Chinese youtiao.

Storage and Reheating

Jok can be kept in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to a week. When you're ready to eat it, simply reheat the rice porridge on the stovetop or in the microwave. You may need to add a little extra water if the porridge becomes too thick while reheating. The toppings should be stored separately (aside from the meatballs which are cooked with the rice porridge).

FAQs about Jok

More Thai Breakfast Recipes

Jok is often considered a breakfast staple in Thailand, though it can be enjoyed at any time of day. Similarly, here are some other Thai dishes that, while not specifically classified as breakfast foods, can be enjoyed in the morning as well.

Craving more? Subscribe to Rachel Cooks Thai to get new Thai recipes delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Recipe

Jok (Thai Rice Porridge)

Incredibly comforting and nourishing, Jok is the Thai take on rice porridge or congee.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Rice Dishes

Cuisine: Thai

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 287kcal

Author: Rachel

Equipment

• ▢
  mortar and pestle
• ▢
  large pot

Ingredients

Jok:

• ▢ 1 cup broken jasmine rice
• ▢ 10 cups water (or Thai broth)
• ▢ 1.5 Tablespoons fish sauce
• ▢ 1.5 Tablespoons thin soy sauce

Pork Meatballs:

• ▢ 1 cup ground pork
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon thin soy sauce
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic
• ▢ 2 cilantro roots
• ▢ ½ teaspoon white pepper powder

Toppings:

• ▢ 6 eggs
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons green onions sliced thinly
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons ginger sliced thinly
• ▢ dash white pepper powder
• ▢ splash thin soy sauce

Instructions

• Start the Rice Cooking: Add broken jasmine rice to a large pot. Rinse with water several times, until the water runs clear. Add 6 cups of water (or Thai broth¹) and bring to a gentle boil. Once the rice has reached a boil, turn the heat down to medium low.
• Make the Pork Meatballs: While the rice is cooking, make the pork meatballs. Pound the cilantro roots² and garlic in a mortar and pestle until a smooth paste is formed. Add the white pepper powder, then the ground pork, thin soy sauce, and fish sauce. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. Roll pork mixture into small meatballs. Add to the simmering rice porridge.
• Continue Cooking the Rice: Allow the rice to cook for at least an hour, stirring every 15 minutes to assess its consistency. If it is becoming too thick, add additional water. I tend to add at least 4 additional cups of water (for a total of 10 cups). The longer it cooks, the more water you will need, and the creamier the consistency will be.³
• Season the Jok: Once the Jok is as creamy as you like, add the thin soy sauce and fish sauce, starting with 1 Tablespoon of each. Taste and adjust as needed.
• Make Soft Boiled Eggs: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the eggs to the boiling water, then turn the heat off and place a lid on top. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water for 6 minutes, then place them in cold water.
• Serve: Scoop single servings of jok into bowls, with the cooked pork meatballs placed on top. Break a soft boiled egg into each bowl. Garnish with green onions and thinly sliced ginger. Sprinkle with a dash of white pepper powder and a splash of thin soy sauce. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

1.  I usually use water in this recipe, but a Thai chicken or pork broth could be used as well.  As the broth has added salt, you'll need to decrease the amount of fish sauce and thin soy sauce added to the Jok.  Once the rice has cooked to your desired consistency, taste and add these seasoning sauces as needed. 
2. Cilantro roots can often be found at markets that cater to the Southeast Asian population, as well as at local farmer's markets.  If you don't have cilantro roots, you can substitute cilantro stems or omit them altogether. 
3. I often let Jok simmer for 2-3 hours in total and add a total of 10 cups of water for the 1 cup of broken jasmine rice.  This produces a silky smooth and creamy porridge. 

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 1114mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 306IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

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