Three consecutive days of gloomy days. In May. Great.
This calls for another comfort food, jok, or congee. There’s a million varieties all over East and Southeast Asia but basically it’s rice (usually jasmine rice) cooked for a long time over water or stock. Over time, the rice breaks down and becomes this kind of mush. Then you add a variety of toppings which makes it truly magical.
My favorite is the kind you add fish and ginger (魚片粥) which is more Hong Kong style or the Cambodian borbor style which you add chicken and herbs.
You might be thinking, aren’t you Japanese isn’t this the equivalent of okayu? Indeed it is, but it’s kind of not.
As a Japanese person, I’m often asked if this isn’t just our version of okayu?
Yes and no.
Let me make it clear that I don’t like okayu. For one thing, my mother only made it for me when I’m sick, hence I have no good memories when I think about eating them. Secondly, because okayu is typically for is typically for the sick, the flavors and toppings are very bland. Most Japanese people just eat it with umeboshi (a pickled plum) or kombu (salted seaweed). Not the type of food I think of, when I think of comfort food.
I digress as usual.
Today I made fish congee which is very easy to make in an Instant Pot. I put the washed rice with water, white fish, and a dash of fish sauce.
Once it’s done, I top it off with scallions, ginger, sprouts, and fried onions. The combination creates this perfect harmony of textures and flavors that makes even the dreariest day a little brighter. It’s easy to eat and digest but packed with flavor. You can also add an egg for extra protein. The smells always bring me back to Asia where you hurriedly slurp the jok by a street stand surrounded by families and old people.
All I’m missing is 油炸鬼 (Chinese fried donuts) but I suppose this will do for now.
What’s your go-to comfort food when the weather turns against you?
