Century Egg and Pork Congee
The classic Cantonese breakfast bowl — long-simmered rice porridge collapsed into silk, finished with shredded pork, jammy century egg, ginger, and a confetti of scallion. Pure comfort.
Ingredients
- jasmine rice1 cup, rinsed
- water10 cups
- pork tenderloin250 g
- soy sauce1 tbsp
- shaoxing wine1 tsp
- cornstarch1 tsp
- fresh ginger1-inch knob, julienned
- century eggs2, peeled and diced
- toasted sesame oil1 tsp
- scallions3, thinly sliced
- white pepperto taste
- fine sea saltto taste
Steps
Toss rice with salt and oil.
Toss the rinsed rice with 1/2 tsp salt and a teaspoon of neutral oil in a heavy pot. Add the water and bring to a hard boil.
Simmer rice into porridge.
Drop the heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring every 10 minutes or so, until the rice has collapsed into a creamy porridge, 60–70 minutes.
Prepare and marinate pork.
Meanwhile, slice the pork thin against the grain. Toss with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, and a pinch of white pepper. Let sit 15 minutes.
Add ginger and century egg to porridge.
Stir half the ginger and half the diced century egg into the porridge. Simmer 5 more minutes to dissolve.
Cook pork in congee gently.
Slip the pork into the simmering congee a few slices at a time so it doesn't clump. Cook gently until just opaque, about 2 minutes.
Season and serve congee.
Season with salt and white pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with the remaining century egg, ginger, scallions, and a few drops of sesame oil.
Nutrition, per serving. 190 calories. Protein 13.5 grams, 26 percent. Carbs 28 grams, 54 percent. Fat 4.5 grams, 20 percent. Fiber 1 grams, sugar 1.5 grams, saturated fat 0.7 grams, sodium 480 milligrams. Estimated from ingredients.

