Thai Breakfast Rice Soup (Khao Tom)

Instructions:

1. Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear, then drain. Add it to a large soup pot along with the 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium, let it simmer for about one hour or until the rice breaks down and becomes creamy.
3. In a pan, sauté ground pork or chicken with minced garlic, white pepper, and 1 tbsp of fish sauce until fully cooked.
4. Add the cooked meat into the rice soup and stir well.
5. Then, add the remaining 2 tbsp of fish sauce into the soup and let it simmer for 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust the flavor as per your liking.
6. Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Top each with green onion slices, cilantro leaves, and fried garlic.
7. Serve hot with fresh lime wedges on the side. Squeeze some lime juice over the soup before eating.