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.
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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
The Thai version of congee is known as Jok (โจ๊ก). It is pronounced "joke".
Congee is a general term for rice porridge. It originated in China, but is now served throughout Asia. Jok is Thailand's version of congee. The Thai have adapted the original recipe to their tastes by using traditional Thai flavors such as the garlic, cilantro root, and white pepper marinade for the meatballs and topping the congee with white pepper powder and Thai thin soy sauce.

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.
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Recipe

Jok (Thai Rice Porridge)
Equipment
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Nanajee Travels
Although "rice porridge" might not initially sound enticing, this blog does an amazing job of showcasing just how delicious it can be! The way it highlights the creamy texture and comforting warmth truly captures the essence of this dish. With the right ingredients and toppings, rice porridge can transform into a flavorful delight that surprises and satisfies. This is a wonderful reminder that sometimes the simplest dishes hold the most potential for culinary enjoyment. If you haven't given rice porridge a chance yet, this post might just inspire you to try it!
ashok
My Family Loved it. I am definitely sharing Guys, Thanks For sharing this Great Recipe. this recipe and this website with my friend. Hope they also love it. Thank you again for sharing such a great recipe.
Bill Miller
Glad you have shared this recipe, Rachel. It is such a breakfast staple here in "The Land of Smiles".
The eatery down the block makes a huge kettle every morning. You can choose various additions such as pork or fish sausage balls, or they will drop a raw egg into the near boiling jok.
The usual condiments are available at the table if you eat in, but some are really fiery!
One of the resident dogs or cats may come and sit by your feet, too. Makes me feel at home.
Rachel
Love your description of the eatery down the block, Bill! Brings back great memories for me 🙂
Alyssa
I splash vinegar (red vinegar, even better) and add a spoonful of fried garlic. Super Thai, super delicious.
Alyssa
I splash vinegar (red vinegar, even better) and add a spoonful of fried garlic. Super Thai, super delicious.
Elizabeth
Thank you! My husband is Thai and I have been trying to cook for him! This is the most straightforward recipe I have found. And I trust you know what you're talking about 🙂 I will let you know what my husband thinks!!
Rachel
I'm so glad you liked it! I'm addicted to it too 🙂
Courtney
This was so delicious! Im addicted , thanks for your amazing recipe!
Rachel
Yes, Linda, I have some pork floss in my kitchen just waiting to be eaten with jok! Can't wait 🙂
Linda Plyem
It is also great with pork floss sprinkled on top.
audrey
hi and thanks for advance.
suppose i cant find broken rice, i can just use normal jasmin rice and crush it myself right?
Rachel
Hi Audrey, yes, I believe you can, although I haven't tried it myself yet.