You must have seen glutinous rice flour as one of the common ingredients in many Asian dishes like dumplings and desserts. The delicious dumplings may make you drool; the thought of a gluten allergy is stopping you from having them, right?
Since the name glutinous rice seems like it contains a lot of gluten, people living with gluten allergies don’t think about this special rice too much. So what actually is glutinous rice flour? Is glutinous rice flour gluten free?
Fortunately, glutinous rice flour is gluten free. Rice is not similar to gluten grains like barley or wheat; hence it also does not have the gluten protein found in such grains. The stickiness or elasticity in glutinous rice is not derived from anything similar to gluten.
I have covered more details regarding glutinous rice in this article, so continue reading to unveil the whole truth.
Table of Contents
Is Glutinous Rice Flour Gluten Free?
Yes, glutinous rice flour is gluten free. Glutinous rice is a special variety of rice grains that gets sticky after cooking. Due to its name and the texture of the rice, people often confuse it with gluten grains.
Glutinous rice is not a part of the gluten family. Rice, in general, has nothing to do with gluten, and all its varieties, including glutinous rice, are entirely gluten free.
But not being a gluten grain is not enough to consider the glutinous rice flour safe for gluten-sensitive people. The flour is made by grinding the dehydrated grains in a mill. If the mill where the glutinous rice is grounded grinds wheat or barley, the chances of cross-contamination prevail.
Processing both the grains together will add gluten to the rice flour, too, making the rice flour unsafe for people intolerant to gluten.
So how do you figure out if the rice flour is safe for you or not? Check the package label. A gluten free product will always bear the gluten free tag. If the rice flour is processed in a common factory, the package may also give buyers a disclaimer that they have processed it in mills that also grind gluten grains.
So read the label to make a safe choice. Additionally, the dumplings made with glutinous rice flour may have other ingredients containing gluten, so make sure to inquire about the other ingredients used in the recipe as well.
Related Post:- Are Funyuns Gluten Free?
What Is Glutinous Rice? How Is It Used?
Glutinous rice is simply a different variety of rice with a sticky texture. Glutinous rice has a sweet taste; it’s also called sweet rice. People don’t consume glutinous rice like other rice since the texture and taste are different.
Glutinous rice is mainly used for making different recipes, especially in Asian cuisine. This rice flour is used to make dough for dumplings, and some amazing dessert recipes are also made with this rice flour.
Besides, glutinous rice flour also works as a thickener, so you can use it instead of corn flour. The chewy consistency of the glutinous rice makes it a substitute for tapioca starch as well.
Is Glutinous Rice Flour Healthy?
Glutinous rice is healthy and is not very high in calories. A cup of glutinous rice contains 200 calories and about 37 grams of carbohydrate; this whole grain rice is better than white rice. The complex carbohydrates in glutinous rice can keep you full for longer compared to normal white rice.
Glutinous rice contains vitamin D, vitamin B, phosphorus, and potassium, which help with bone density. This also helps with good metabolism as well as organ performance.
Check Out These Popular Glutinous / Sticky Rice Brands
Mentioned below are some of the best glutinous rice flour brands that are safe to consume by gluten-sensitive people. Here is the list-
1. Shiratamako Glutinous Rice Flour
Shiratamako glutinous rice flour is made from mochigome sweet rice. The makers first wash and soak the rice. Then they grind the soaked rice with some water. After grinding, the liquid is strained and dried, and the final outcome is smooth rice flour.
2. Rice Flour Glutinous
This is another great glutinous rice flour processed safely in a dedicated factory. There are no added preservatives or any other additives in it.
3. Koda Farms Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour
Koda Farms Mochiko Sweet Rice flour is made from organic sweet rice and will work perfectly for any glutinous rice recipe.
Recipes With Glutinous Rice: Gluten Free And Delicious
Glutinous rice flour is a versatile ingredient; you can make delicious recipes with it. Here are a couple of dishes you should try with this sticky rice flour that is easy and delicious.
1. Tikoy
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cup Glutinous rice flour
- Canola oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¼ cup of water
Method
- Fill a steamer pot with water and bring it to a boil. Keep the steamer basket over the pot. Take a round pan, brush the bottom and sides of its oil, and keep it aside.
- Combine water and sugar in a bowl and keep aside. In a big bowl, take the glutinous rice flour, add the sugar water, and mix well. Make sure there are no lumps in the batter.
- Pour the batter into the greased pan and place it on the steamer basket. Cover with the lid and kitchen towel and let it steam for 50 to 60 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if the cake is cooked well or not. If the toothpick comes out clean, it means the cake has cooked through.
- Remove the pan from the steamer and allow it to cool. Use a knife to loosen the sides and turn the tikoy upside down. Now wrap it with a plastic film and keep it in the refrigerator for four hours.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan on medium heat. Beat the eggs in a bowl and cut the tikoy into ¼-inch pieces. Now dip the tikoy pieces into the egg mixture and fry them for about 3 minutes until they turn golden brown. Your Chinese cake, tipoy, is ready to eat.
2. Kalamay Lansong
Ingredients
- 4 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 2 ½ cups coconut milk
- 1 ½ cups sugar
(Banana leaves for steaming the lansong)
Method
- Take an 8-inch baking pan and line it with banana leaves. Make sure to wipe the banana leaves with a damp cloth before.
- Boil coconut cream in a pan on medium heat. Stir occasionally and continue boiling until the cream thickens. Reduce the heat and keep stirring. After some time, the oil will separate from the cream, and solids will begin to form. Scrap the sides and bottom of the pan to prevent the cream from burning. Keep cooking until you get brown curds.
- Take a mesh sieve and drain the cream. It will separate the oil from the latik (curd). Keep it aside.
- Mix glutinous rice flour, sugar, and coconut milk. Continue to stir until sugar is dissolved completely and you get a smooth mixture. Again strain the batter using a mesh sieve to separate lumps.
- Gently brush the banana leaves with coconut oil and pour the batter into it. Steam for 20 to 25 minutes. Insert a toothpick to see if the cake is cooked or not. Remove the pan from the steamer and let it cool.
- Turn the cake upside down and remove the banana leaf. Brush the cake with coconut oil and layer with latik, and your kalamay lansong is ready.
Conclusion
People following a gluten free diet can include glutinous rice in their diet. Glutinous rice grains are not similar to wheat or barley; hence, celiacs can consume them. But make sure to read the package label and confirm if the rice is processed in a dedicated gluten facility or not.
Glutinous rice flour is an excellent ingredient in many Asian dishes. I have shared a couple of recipes; try your hands at them.
FAQs
Can Celiacs Have Glutinous Rice Flour?
Yes, celiacs can have glutinous rice flour, but the rice grains have to be processed in a dedicated gluten free mill.
Is Glutinous Powder Gluten-Free?
Yes, the glutinous powder is gluten free. It’s plain glutinous flour made from rice grains, so the chance of gluten getting added is not there.
What Is The Difference Between Normal Rice Flour And Glutinous Rice Flour?
Glutinous rice flour and normal rice flour have very different textures. The former has a sticky consistency and sweet taste, while the latter does not. Glutinous rice flour also works as a thickener, and we can use them as a substitute for cornstarch, but we cannot use normal rice flour for the same purpose.
Is Wheat Flour The Same As Glutinous Rice Flour?
No, wheat flour is not the same as glutinous rice flour. Wheat flour has gluten, but glutinous rice flour does not. The uses of both types are also quite different.
Is Uncle Ben’s Rice Gluten Free?
Yes, Uncle Ben’s Rice is gluten free and has no harmful ingredients. Click here to check a complete guide on Uncle Ben’s rice gluten status.
