Made from finely milled rice grains, rice flour comes in handy when making gluten-free dishes.
It’s a healthy ingredient that many people use as a substitute for wheat flour for gluten intolerance.
There are many ways to use rice flour at home, from baking and frying to thickening sauces and gravy.
If you don’t have it in your pantry, you can use substitutes that provide similar results.
Here, we’ll talk about the best rice flour substitutes to use for various dishes. Check them out!
Best Rice Flour Substitute
- Cornstarch
One of the best ways to substitute rice flour is using cornstarch, which is almost equivalent. Cornstarch is gluten-free and with less taste, just like rice flour.
It’s very easy to substitute cornstarch for rice flour as you use a ratio of 1:1 whether you want to use it for frying or thickening sauces and gravy.
However, cornstarch flour doesn’t give the best results when baking, but you can still use it with other ingredients to achieve the desired binding effect.
- Coconut Flour
Coconut flour also works exceptionally well when used for frying foods and thickening sauces.
It’s a gluten-free and grain-free flour made from dried coconut pulp that packs essential vitamins and minerals. You can use it in any recipe that requires the rice four.
With a low glycemic index, coconut flour is high in fiber and is good for your health due to its fewer calories. It also has reasonably low carbs, which make it easy to digest.
You can use it to make baked goods that you would prepare with rice flour as its natural sweetness will enhance the flavors.
However, you’ll need to use about 50% less coconut flour when substituting as this flour is sweeter and denser than rice flour.
- Tapioca Flour
Tapioca flour is the perfect rice flour substitute that works best as a thickening agent. You can use it when making sauces, pie fillings, and condiments.
This flour has a smooth texture and a little flavor with no smell that would contradict other ingredients.
It also works well for frying meats, chicken breasts, and other poultry dishes. But you should note that tapioca flour is a bit sweeter than rice flour.
While tapioca doesn’t give excellent baking results, you can still use it with other ingredients to bake tasty pancakes and pastries.
Moreover, you’ll have to double the amount of tapioca flour to get similar results you would achieve with rice flour. For instance:
If a recipe requires a half-cup of rice flour, you’ll need to use a full cup of tapioca flour to achieve the same results.
- Almond Flour
You can use Almond flour instead of rice flour since it’s also a gluten-free option that will help you make healthier dishes.
Almond flour works best when used for baking, but it still gives decent results when used for frying.
However, you’ll need to be more careful when using it for fried foods as it cooks quickly and can easily burn.
It’s also wise to use less almond flour than you would use for rice flour, as using too much of it will give your meal a nutty flavor.
An alternative to frying foods with almond flour is coating them with the flour and other ingredients then baking them in the oven for better results.
- Sorghum Flour
Sorghum flour is the best rice flour substitute if you want to bake or thicken sauces.
The best thing about sorghum flour is that it’s also gluten-free, and you can use as much of it as you would use rice flour. The texture and nutrients are almost the same, making it easy to substitute.
Sorghum flour packs essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, proteins, and B vitamins. It will also provide fiber to help regulate metabolism.
The only downside of using sorghum flour is that it’s quite bitter and has a strong flavor that can easily overpower your meal’s taste. So, it may not be suitable for frying meat or poultry.
FAQs
Q: What is a Good Replacement for Rice Flour?
A: A good replacement for rice flour will depend on your specific needs and whether you are gluten-tolerant.
If you want a versatile substitute and gluten isn’t an issue, you should opt for all-purpose flour.
Other rice flour substitutes like almond flour, coconut flour, and chickpea flour are excellent choices for gluten-free dishes.
Q: Can All-Purpose Flour Be Substituted for Rice Flour?
A: Yes, all-purpose flour can be substituted for rice flour. However, this won’t be the best choice if you are gluten-intolerant.
So, you may want to go for other options like sorghum, cornstarch, or tapioca if your body can’t tolerate gluten.
If you don’t mind the gluten, then the all-purpose flour will be your best bet, as you can use it for anything.
Nonetheless, some brands like the Bob’s Red Mill are now making gluten-free all-purpose flour. If you can get this flour, you’ll have unlimited gluten-free dishes to make.
Q: Is Chickpea Flour a Good Substitute for Rice Flour?
A: Yes, Chickpea flour is a good substitute for rice flour. It’s a gluten-free option packed with more nutrients than you can ever get from other kinds of flour.
It’s packed with fiber, proteins, minerals, and a robust binding power that you won’t get with other gluten-free flour.
You can use it for baking flatter and denser pancakes, which are better than what you get with other flours.
What’s fascinating about Chickpea flour is that it’s readily available in grocery stores and supermarkets. You can even make your own at home by grinding chickpeas in a blender.
Q: Coconut Flour or Almond Flour: Which is better for you?
A: Both coconut flour and almond flour are suitable options, and they deliver invaluable nutrients to the body.
Almond flour is an excellent choice as it has more vitamins and minerals than coconut flour. But if you want a low-carb option, you can’t go wrong with coconut flour.
You may also like: Dashi Substitutes, Au Jus Substitutes, and Mace Substitutes
Conclusion
Rice flour is a unique ingredient that delivers tasty baked goodies and gives excellent results when used for frying or thickening sauces.
Feel free to use any of the substitutes listed above as long as it suits your needs. If you don’t want to use the substitutes, you can make your own rice flour by grinding rice grain in a blender.
