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I've curated this list of sweet (glutinous) rice flour recipes for Lunar New Year in conjunction with All About Lunar New Year from my podcast guest, Emily Ho.
Glutinous rice flour is one of the many names of this remarkably versatile ingredient which has been a long-standing staple in many Asian households. Recently, it has gained popularity in the United States, particularly with the rise of mochi ice cream and mochi donuts.
Despite its name, a common yet understandable misconception about glutinous rice flour is that it contains gluten. In reality, it's entirely gluten-free, making it an excellent choice for gluten-free baking and cooking!
The unique texture of the flour comes from the high starch content (specifically amylopectin starch) that creates a soft dough with a chewy texture when you bite into it. This makes it perfect to bake a sweet treat with an Asian twist.
Whether you're in the mood for something sweet or savory, I've provided a host of recipe links so you can find the perfect dish to whip up for your Lunar New Year celebration or to enjoy any time throughout the year.
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How to Use This List
- To make this list more readable, I separated it into sweet or savory and Asian or Western dishes.
- Since "mochi" has become more of a catch-all term when a recipe uses sweet rice flour instead of solely referring to a traditional Japanese rice cake, I attempted to delineate between these traditional and non-traditional approaches.
- Lots of Q&A below since there are many different names and uses for this flour!
- Would love to hear if this helped you or if you have any suggestions! Always learning over here at The Storied Recipe!
- So you know where we're headed as we start listing recipes, the set of categories includes Asian Desserts, Asian Savory Dishes, Mochi Desserts, Mochi-inspired Desserts, Kimchi Roux, Thickener for Sauces, Soups and Porridges, Staples for Gluten-free Baking, and Gluten-free Western Desserts.
Asian Desserts
Below is a selection of Asian desserts featuring sweet rice flour, including Nian Gao, a sweet rice cake commonly enjoyed during Lunar New Year celebrations. My podcast guest, Emily Ho, graciously shared her special recipe for this popular treat with us. https://thestoriedrecipe.com/glutinous-rice-cake/
Baked Nian Gao (Glutinous Rice Cake)
Cooks in 75 minutesThis traditional Chinese cake is steamed in the oven for a silky, chewy texture and a mildly sweet milky flavor.
Sesame Balls
Cooks in 120 minutesChinese fried Sesame Balls are a popular dim sum item. Try our authentic, extensively tested recipe, and make them with either lotus or red bean paste.
Injeolmi (Korean Sweet Rice Cake)
Cooks in 10 minutesInjeolmi are Korean rice cakes made with sweet glutinous rice flour. This recipe is the most simple recipe that can be made in 10 min or less but with just as yummy results as store bought ones.
Mitarashi Dango
Cooks in 45 minutesMitarashi Dango are traditional Japanese rice dumplings smothered in an irresistible sweet soy glaze. The dumplings are skewered on a bamboo stick and enjoyed all-year round. Make this tasty street snack right in your own kitchen!
Onde-onde
Cooks in 20 minutesOnde-onde(also spelled as ondeh-ondeh) are made with pandan (screwpine leaf) infused dough and filled with Gula Melaka or palm sugar. Roll them with grated coconut before serving.
Matcha Snow Skin Mooncakes
Chewy matcha snow skin mooncakes with a sweet red bean paste filling. No baking required and perfect for the Mid Autumn Festival.
Sapin-Sapin
Cooks in 40 minutesNot only one but three flavors to enjoy! Try this Sapin-Sapin, a Filipino dessert made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar, and flavorings.
Palitaw
Cooks in 20 minutesPalitaw made with glutinous rice flour, grated coconut, sesame seeds, and sugar. Soft, chewy, and gluten-free, this Filipino delicacy is delicious as snack or dessert.
Vietnamese Snowballs - Banh Bao Chi
Cooks in 65 minutesThese delicious little Vietnamese Snowballs are one of the best Asian treats I have ever had. Each snowball has a soft, sweet centre wrapped in a chewy outer layer that is covered in desiccated coconut. In this post we have included recipes for both mung bean and coconut fillings, which are easily the most popular flavours.
Korean Sweet Rice Cake Bars (LA Chapssalteok)
Cooks in 45 minutesThese crispy chewy Korean style sweet rice cake bars are made without butter or oil. Loaded with nuts and seeds, these bars make perfect gluten-free snack!
Asian Savory Dishes
Despite the name sweet (white) rice flour, the flour does not have a sweet taste, in fact it is not sweet at all. It is a great recipe to use in savory dishes while making Asian cuisine. Heads up! I didn't include sticky rice dumplings (link) or any other recipe that uses sticky rice because it is made with glutinous rice instead of glutinous (sticky) rice flour.
Jidori Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)
The best tsukune, or Japanese chicken meatballs, are nicely caramelized, well seasoned, and juicyand served straight off the grill.
Cheung Fun / Steamed Rice Noodle Rolls (w/ Char Siu Pork)
Cooks in 70 minutesThis char siu cheung fun recipe is a thinly steamed rice noodle roll filled with roasted pork and topped with a seasoning sauce and chopped scallions.
Gluten-free Dumplings
Cooks in 45 minutesThese gluten-free dumplings pan-fry well, boil well, and can also be steamed. Most importantly, you can also freeze any uncooked dumplings for later!
Ham Sui Gok (Fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings)
Cooks in 162 minutesHam Sui Gok are savoury Chinese fried glutinous rice dumplings that are served at dim sum restaurants. It features a pork and vegetable filling encased in a slightly sweet, chewy glutinous rice dough.
Banh Tom - Vietnamese Sweet Potato and Prawn Fritters
Cooks in 60 minutesA prawn nestled in a basket of golden sweet potato strips then deep fried until crispy. Banh tom istraditionally served with fresh lettuce, herbs and a traditional Vietnamese dipping sauce called nuoc mam cham.
Mochi Desserts
In Japanese cuisine, 'mochi' typically refers to a traditional rice cake, plain but adaptable to sweet or savory fillings. Meanwhile, 'mochigashi' describes sweeter mochi variations. Below is an example of traditional mochi (with red bean paste) as well as a few mochigashi recipes. For an overview of mochi's role in Japanese culinary history, explore this resource from Just One Cookbook.
Red Bean Mochi
Cooks in 90 minutesRed Bean Mochi is a great way to try red bean paste for the first time, or use up leftover red bean paste you have from making another recipe!
Strawberry mochi
Cooks in 80 minutesTop 3 things people have been asking me to make: 1. something pink; 2. something with strawberries; 3. mochi! This recipe teaches you how to make pink strawberry mochi with the BEST look and taste!
Mochi Ice-Cream
Cooks in 35 minutesSoft, sweet and chewy mochi made from glutinous rice flour wrapped around a creamy ice-cream centre.
Boiled muah chee (mochi)
Cooks in 45 minutesHave you tried boiled muah chee (mochi) before? This recipe yields amazing soft and chewy muah chee that are topped with fragrant sweet peanuts. It's a real treat for any day of the week.
Green Tea Mochi
Perfectly chewy with a hint of sweetness,Green Tea Mochiis a timeless Japanese sweet enjoyed by all ages. I'll show you how make two versions with brilliant contrasting colors. Serve this matcha daifuku with green tea or hojicha for a delightful afternoon treat!
Mochi-Inspired Desserts
Instead of a traditional rice cake, these mochi-inspired desserts use sweet rice flour to create a sweet treat that has the same chewy texture that makes mochi distinctive.
Mochi Waffles
Cooks in 10 minutesChewy mochi center with a crunchy golden brown exterior makes for the best mochi waffles. This easy recipe creates a cross between Belgain waffles and Japanese mochi. The ultimate homemade breakfast dish.
Mochi Donuts (Crispy Outside, Chewy Inside Pon de Ring Donuts)
Cooks in 30 minutesCrisp mochi donuts with chewy centers--this mochi donut recipe is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours rolling donut dough into bubble rings. All you need is a piping (or ziplock) bag!
Local Hawaii Butter Mochi
Cooks in 70 minutesThis local Hawaii butter mochi recipe is the classic base mochi cake perfect for first time bakers. I like to top mine with optional shredded coconut, but you can easily omit! No special equipment needed, just mix and bake.
Kimchi Options
When preparing kimchi, sweet rice flour can be used to create a roux, forming the base of the kimchi paste. This flour aids in ensuring that the flavors are thoroughly absorbed and adhere well to the cabbage.
Mak (Easy) Kimchi
Cooks in 2 hours 30 minutesQuick Dongchimi Recipe: Easy Korean Radish Water Kimchi
Light and refreshing water Kimchi made from peppery Korean Radishes. Typically made in the winter to aid digestion, this can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Traditional napa cabbage kimchi (Tongbaechu-kimchi: 통배추김치)
Cooks in 2 hours 50 minutesMy classic, spicy, traditional whole leaf napa cabbage kimchi recipe that I've been using for years and years. Spicy, fermented, and delicious.
Thickener for Sauces
Glutinous rice flour is an excellent thickening agent for sauces because it's super starchy and makes them nice and thick without changing the taste.
How to Make Gluten-Free Gravy
Cooks in 13 minutesGluten-Free Gravy is easy to make. This recipe only requires three simple ingredients. The gravy is perfect for Thanksgiving or any meal!
The Best Gluten-Free Cheese Sauce
Cooks in 75 minutesThe Best Gluten-Free Cheese Sauce has a full-bodied flavour which can be used in a variety of meals from pasta sauce to cauliflower cheese and is velvety smooth thanks to the use of sweet rice flour.
Gluten-Free White Sauce (Bchamel)
Cooks in 20 minutesGluten-free white sauce, also known as a classic bchamel sauce, is one of the five mother sauces in French cuisine. This easy recipe, made from butter, gluten-free flour, and milk, can be used on its own or as the base for many other sauces. Easy to customize for dairy-free or grain-free options.
Soups and Porridges
The following three recipes demonstrate how sweet rice flour dumplings are a fantastic addition to both savory and sweet soups, offering a nice texture contrast.
Tang Yuan
Heartwarming simple and easy homemade glutinous rice balls dessert soup is great for a cold day! This tang yuan soup recipe has black sesame filling and serves with ginger sugar soup.
Black Sesame Soup (2 Ways)
Cooks in 8 minutesDelicious & easy Black Sesame Soup! This comforting healthy dessert soup is nutty, sweet and perfect for a light dessert.
Savory Tang Yuan Soup
Cooks in 50 minutesThis Savory Tang Yuan Soup features hand-rolled, chewy glutinous rice flour dumplings in a warming broth filled with cabbage, mushrooms, fish cakes, and Chinese sausage.
Sweet Red Bean Soup Tang Yuan (Hong Dou Tang)
Cooks in 83 minutesSoft and chewy tang yuan (sticky rice balls/mochi balls) served in sweet red bean soup is another variety of tang yuan recipes you will enjoy to celebrate the Chinese dongzhi festival or as a tong sui dessert. The recipe can be cooked in Instant Pot pressure cooker or on the stove.
Staples for Gluten-free Baking
For those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, glutinous rice flour can be added to your list of gluten-free flours. Check out this awesome guide to gluten-free baking with sweet rice flour From The Larder.
Homemade Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Cooks in 6 minutesThis Homemade Gluten-Free Flour Blend will happily replace your bag of branded gluten-free flour with infinitely superior results. It creates gluten-free bakes which are light, fluffy and deliciously tasty. It has a neutral flavour with a mix of only 4 gluten-free flours and no xanthan gum. Use this gluten-free flour mix in a 1:1 swap in your favourite cakes, cookies, quick breads, dessert or even pie crust recipes.
The Best All-Butter Gluten-Free Pastry (no xanthan gum)
Cooks in 80 minutesThis homemade All-Butter Gluten-Free Pastry Recipe is so easy to work with and incredibly versatile. We use three alternative flours to achieve the perfect crisp texture and incredible buttery taste. Its delicious as a crust for fruit pies, tarts and mince pies or for savoury quiches, sausage rolls or pasties. Plus there is no xanthan gum in this recipe so everyone can enjoy it.
Gluten-Free Western Desserts
There are so many recipes that could have made it on this list, but the following gluten-free desserts show just how versatile sweet rice flour can be!
Thin & Crisp Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies
Cooks in 130 minutesGluten-free sugar cookies that you can roll, cut out, and decorate! Crispy, flavorful, buttery, and not overly sweet. See the notes for substitutions and paleo/vegan options. Decorate these with powdered sugar icing (recipe below) or coconut butter icing.
Super-Moist Gluten-Free Chocolate Bundt Cake
Cooks in 60 minutesFoolproof gluten-free chocolate bundt cake that's rich, tender, and fudgy. Easy to make in 1 bowl in about an hour. Top it with crme frache ganache and serve with billows of whipped crme frache.
Thick & Chewy Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles
Cooks in 60 minutesCinnamon-kissed gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies made with a blend of flours (almond, oat & rice) in one bowl and 20 minutes of active time.
Gluten-Free Caramel Cake
Cooks in 60 minutesKeep everybody happy with this Gluten-Free Caramel Cake. A gorgeously flavourful cake whose caramel notes are enhanced by the use of teff and oat flour. It takes no time at all to mix together and is drenched in an easy caramel icing you will find it impossible to resist.
Moist & Lofty Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread (Dairy-Free)
This sneakily gluten-free dairy-free pumpkin bread gets an unbelievably tender, springy crumb from a blend of gluten-free flours: sweet rice, millet, and oat flours. Made with 1 bowl and 20 minutes of active time. Make it next-level delicious with a drizzle of buttery maple glaze.
Baci Di Dama Cookies (Italian Hazelnut Cookies)
Cooks in 240 minutesDeliciously Italian authentic hazelnut Baci Di Dama Cookies (Lady's Kisses), but made gluten free. Optional Dairy Free/Vegan recipe.
Gluten-Free Cherry Clafoutis with Almond Flour
Cooks in 55 minutesThis gluten-free cherry clafoutis combines cherries and vanilla almond flour batter for a dreamy baked custard made in under an hour. See the recipe notes for dairy-free and refined sugar-free options!
Brown Butter Mochi Brownies
These fudgy, gluten-free brownies are made with chocolate, cocoa powder and sweet rice flour.
Gluten-Free English Pancakes {without Xanthan Gum}
Cooks in 35 minutesThese Gluten-Free Pancakes are delicious. Quick to make and ideal for Pancake Day. They are also dairy-free and without xanthan gum.
One-Pot Honeycomb Cake
On the outside, this honeycomb cake looks like any other Bundt cake, but inside, it has a vibrant shade of green and beautiful honeycomb pattern.
FAQ
What is the Difference: Glutinous Rice Flour vs. Rice Flour vs. Sweet Rice Flour vs Sticky Rice Flour
Glutinous rice flour, also referred to as sweet rice flour or sticky rice flour, differs from regular rice flour, despite some similarities. While both can be used as thickeners, glutinous rice flour, made from both long grain and short grain sweet white rice varieties, imparts a distinct chewiness not found in regular rice flour. The latter is derived from a different type of long grain rice, resulting in a texture and consistency that sets it apart from its glutinous counterpart.
source: Master Class
Is Mochiko Flour the Same as Glutinous Rice Flour?
Yes, Mochiko Flour, which means "mochi flour" in Japanese, is a specific brand of glutinous (sticky) rice flour. It is the same flour used to make Japanese mochi.
source: Just One Cookbook
Can I Replace Glutinous Rice Flour With All-Purpose Flour?
No, using all-purpose flour won't result in the same texture as glutinous rice flour. However, you can substitute all-purpose flour for a thickener in soups and stews, though this means your dish will no longer be gluten-free. Alternatives to glutinous rice flour include rice flour, arrowroot flour or powder, sorghum flour, almond flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, and corn starch. Keep in mind that these substitutes will alter the final outcome, leading to variations in the dish.
source: Hungry Huy
source: Honest Food Talks
Where Can I Find Sticky Rice Flour?
You can find sticky rice flour in Asian markets if you live near one, in some local grocery stores, or you can order it from Amazon.
Can You Use Glutinous Rice Flour For Frying?
Yes, you can use it to make a batter for deep frying for a variety of treats. It is recommended that you use sweet rice flour made from long-grain rice to achieve a crispier layer when deep frying. This variety is usually sweet rice flour from Southeast Asia, commonly from Thailand, but sometimes from Vietnam. The bags will have green lettering indicating the right rice, like this one.
source: Hungry Huy
source: Bon Appetit
Is Glutinous Rice Flour a Thickener?
Yes, like many other flours, you can use glutinous rice flour as a thickening agent in soups, sauces, and gravies.
source: Honest Food Talks
Can You Substitute Potato Starch With Glutinous Rice Flour?
Answered above - you can use potato starch as a gluten-free flour. However, it will not achieve the distinctive chewy texture usually desired in recipes that call for sticky rice flour. For an excellent recipe that uses potato starch, try Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken with Fried Basil.
50 Best Recipes to Make with Glutinous Rice Flour (Sweet/Sticky Rice Flour)
Glutinous (sticky/sweet) rice flour has applications far beyond Mochi desserts (or Western style Mochi-inspired desserts). Explore sweet and savory recipes that make use of the special stretchy qualities of glutinous rice flour.
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Ingredients
- Asian Desserts
Nian Gao from Emily, Guest of The Storied Recipe
Sesame Balls from The Woks Of Life
Injeolmi from Kimchi Mari
Mitarashi Dango from Just One Cookbook
Onde-Onde from Rasa Malaysia
Matcha Snow Skin Mooncakes from Cooking Therapy
Sapin-Sapin from Foxy Folksy
Palitaw from Kawaling Pinoy
Vietnamese Snowball Cakes (Banh Bao Chi) from Scruff and Steph
Korean Sweet Rice Cake Bars (la Chapssalteok) from Beyond Kimchee
- Asian Savory Dishes
Jidori Tsukune (Chicken Meatball) from Epicurious
Dim Sum Rolls from Hungry Huy
Glutinous Rice Flour Dumpling from The Woks Of Life
Fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings from Sift and Simmer
Vietnamese Sweet Potato and Prawn Fritters from Scruff and Steph
Vietnamese Mung Bean Dumplings (Banh It Tran) from The Viet Vegan
- Mochi Desserts
Traditional Mochi With Red Bean Paste from The Woks Of Life
Strawberry Mochi Filled With Whipped Cream from Ms Shi and Mr He
American-Style Mochi Ice Cream from Zhang Catherine
Taiwanese Peanut Mochi from Woon Heng
Green Tea Mochi from Just One Cookbook
- Mochi-Inspired Desserts
Gluten-Free Mochi Waffles from Keeping It Relle
Mochi Donuts from Hungry Huy
Hawaiian Butter Mochi from Mochi Mommy
Ube Butter Mochi from Meimei Baking
Gluten-Free Pandan Mochi Pancakes from Cooking Therapy
- Kimchi Options
Kimchi from Two Red Bowls
Korean White Radish Water Kimchi (Dongchimi) from Ester, Guest of The Storied Recipe
Classic Korean Kimchi from Maangchi
- Thickener for Sauce
Gluten-Free Gravy from Gluten Free Baking
Gluten-Free Cheese Sauce from From The Larder
Gluten-Free White Sauce (Béchamel) from Wheat By The Way Side
Taiwanese Thick Soy Sauce from Cooking Chinglish
- Soups/Porridges
Sweet Sticky Rice Ball in Soup (Tang Yuan) from Oh My Food Recipes
Korean Pumpkin Porridge with Rice Dumplings (Hobakjuk) from My Korean Kitchen
Sweet Black Sesame Soup - Two Ways from Okonomi Kitchen
Savory Tang Yuan Soup from Sift and Simmer
Red Bean Soup from What To Cook Today
- Cornerstones for Gluten-Free Baking
Gluten-Free Mix from From The Larder
Gluten-Free Pastry from From The Larder
- Gluten-Free Western Desserts
Gluten-Free Cutout Cookies from The Bojon Gourmet
Gluten-Free Chocolate Bundt Cake from The Bojon Gourmet
Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles from The Bojon Gourmet
Gluten-Free Caramel Cake from From The Larder
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread from The Bojon Gourmet
Baci di Dama Cookies (Italian cookies) from Gluten Free Alchemist
Cherry Clafoutis from The Bojon Gourmet
Brown Butter Mochi Brownies from Cooking Therapy
Gluten-Free Crepes from From The Larder
One-Pot Honeycomb Cake from Epicurious
Directions
- Make sure to listen to Emily's epsiode, All About Lunar New Year, while you discover your next favorite glutinous rice flour recipe!
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Would love to hear from you!