Basic Congee (Chinese Rice Porridge)

Prepare the ingredients by rinsing the white rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until it runs clear, thinly slicing the ginger and garlic, and diagonally slicing the scallions while separating the white and green parts

Place the rinsed rice and water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat

Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a brisk simmer and stir in the sliced ginger, garlic, and scallion whites

Simmer the mixture uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking, until the rice is very creamy and thickened

Stir in the soy sauce, kosher salt, toasted sesame oil, and ground white pepper once the desired consistency is reached

Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed, then serve hot topped with the reserved scallion greens and an extra drizzle of toasted sesame oil