Soothing Rice and Ginger Soup

I first enjoyed this treat at the famed Oriental Hotel in Bangkok. Arriving late in the evening after a long and exhausting flight, I needed something soothing and restorative. I ordered this dish, Khao Tom, described on the menu as a rice soup. When it arrived, I saw that it was a Thai version of something very familiar to me, a Chinese congee (or conjee) – a porridge or gruel made from grains, beans and vegetables. In south China it is regarded as a ‘cooling’ or ‘balanced’ food, ju