Chef Melissa King has a particularly soft spot for congee (or jook, the Cantonese name for the iconic rice porridge). “It’s like your Chinese chicken noodle soup — it was always cozy and comforting, ...

Congee is a humble dish, a way to cope when rice stores were low. Stretch the grain by adding too much water, cook it into a hearty porridge, and throw in bits and pieces of whatever leftovers are on ...