02/07/2024
Uses of rice flour and how to make your own rice flour
Rice flour can be used to make several lovely dishes. However, making your own rice flour is better, and the process is easy, too. The advantage of making your own rice flour is that it is fresh, preservative-free, and you can control the texture. Homemade rice flour works great for making rice puddings, gluten-free baked goods, thickening sauces, and more.
Few examples of rice puddings are
Rice flour and milk pudding:
Blend rice flour with water to make a smooth paste.
Bring milk and sugar to a boil, then stir in the rice flour mixture.
Cook for 15 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Flavour with rose water or vanilla and serve chilled, sprinkled with cinnamon.
Thandai Phirni - Spiced Rice Flour Pudding:
Make a thandai spice blend with ingredients like cashews, almonds, cardamom, and saffron.
Blend the rice flour with non-dairy milk and the thandai blend.
Cook this mixture until thickened, then chill and garnish with pistachios, saffron, or dried rose petals.
Delicate Milk and Rice Flour Pudding:
Whisk rice flour with some milk, then add the remaining milk and sugar to a pot.
Cook until thickened, then stir in rose water or orange blossom water.
Chill and serve with toppings like coconut, candied orange peels, and pistachios.
The key steps are blending the rice flour with liquid to avoid lumps and then cooking the mixture slowly over low heat until it thickens to a creamy pudding consistency. Flavouring with aromatic ingredients like rose, orange, or spices creates delicious variations on this simple rice flour dessert.
How you can make your rice flour at home
Here is how to make rice flour at home: Rice flour can be easily made using a high-powered blender or a grain mill. The key steps are:
1. Start with uncooked rice - you can use any rice, such as long, short, or even glutinous rice.
2. Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove any impurities, then pat it dry completely. This helps the rice grind into fine flour.
3. Add the dry rice to a high-powered blender. Blend on the highest setting for 30-45 seconds until the rice is ground into fine, powdery flour.
4. If your blender is not powerful enough, you may need to blend the rice in batches and sieve the flour to remove any coarse bits. Grind the coarse bits again until you achieve fine, consistent flour.
5. Store the homemade rice flour in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 months or in the refrigerator for up to a year.