Vegan Congee (Rice Porridge)

Name: Vegan Congee (Rice Porridge)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 cup short- grain white rice (Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese varieties); 10 cups water; 2 inches ginger, sliced; 1.5 teaspoons fine salt; 5 fresh shiitake mushrooms; scallions, thinly chopped; Chinese parsley; fried shallots (as made in this recipe); picked vegetables (radish, mustard greens, etc.); vegan You Tiao (Chinese fried dough stick); chili oil (homemade recipe HERE); soy sauce, I prefer dark soy sauce; toasted sesame seeds; white pepper