SouthernTurk
Unusual recipes for curious cooks.
https://southernturk.versust.com/recipe/vietnamese-inspired-rice-cooker-congee
Printed September 2, 2026
Printed September 2, 2026
Cooking Without Limits
Vietnamese-Inspired Rice Cooker Congee
Your rice cooker's porridge setting transforms rice into silky comfort food while you sleep or go about your day. Completely hands-off and endlessly customizable.
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- For serving: sliced green onions, cilantro, lime wedges, chili oil, fried shallots, poached eggs or shredded chicken
Preparation
Congee traditionally requires vigilant stirring to prevent sticking and achieve the signature creamy texture. A rice cooker eliminates all of that, producing perfect congee with the press of a button.
Preparation
- Rinse rice in a fine-mesh strainer until water runs clear.
- Place rice, broth, ginger, and garlic in rice cooker pot.
- If your rice cooker has a porridge setting, select it and start. If not, use the regular cook setting and let it run through two full cycles.
- If the congee seems too thick after cooking, stir in additional hot broth or water to reach desired consistency.
- Remove ginger slices and garlic cloves.
- Ladle congee into bowls and let each person customize with toppings.
The Forgiving Nature of Congee
Congee is remarkably tolerant of timing variations. If it cooks longer, it simply becomes creamier. If you prefer more texture, use less broth. The base is intentionally bland, which means toppings do the heavy lifting for flavor. You can prepare the plain congee and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, reheating portions and adding toppings as needed.
