Glutinous rice flour
Glutinous rice flour
찹쌀가루
Chapssalgaru (찹쌀가루) is flour made from glutinous rice, also sold as sweet rice flour. It gives a sticky, chewy texture and is not the same as ordinary non-glutinous rice flour.
Recipes using this ingredient
Full ingredient guide
Glutinous rice flour is made from glutinous rice and is called chapssalgaru (찹쌀가루) in Korean. It behaves very differently from regular rice flour and is valued in Korean cooking for its strong binding ability and distinctive chewy texture.
Despite the English name, glutinous rice flour does not naturally contain gluten. The word “glutinous” refers to the sticky texture of the rice when cooked rather than to wheat gluten.
In Korean cooking, glutinous rice flour can be used for doughs, rice cakes, and traditional sweets. A small amount can also be cooked with water to make a thin rice paste that is added to the seasoning mixture in some types of kimchi.
Glutinous rice flour and regular rice flour are not always interchangeable. Glutinous rice flour produces a softer, stickier, and more elastic texture, while regular rice flour tends to behave more like a conventional dry flour.
When shopping, look for labels such as glutinous rice flour, sweet rice flour, or Korean chapssalgaru. For recipes that specifically call for this ingredient, using regular rice flour without adjusting the recipe can significantly change the final texture.
Where to buy it
- Korean or Asian grocery stores; look for sweet or glutinous rice flour
- Food shops delivering baking ingredients to your country
How to use it
- Rice cakes and doughs that specify glutinous rice flour
- Kimchi paste when the recipe calls for a cooked rice-flour mixture
What to check
- Check for glutinous or sweet rice flour on the label, rather than rice flour alone.
- Dry flour and moist rice flour have different water content. Use the form specified in your recipe.
- Sweet rice flour describes the rice variety, not a ready-sweetened dessert mix.
Can you substitute it?
Ordinary rice flour, wheat flour and cornstarch behave differently. Do not swap them in equal quantities when a recipe depends on the sticky texture of glutinous rice flour.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Glutinous rice flour?
Korean or Asian grocery stores; look for sweet or glutinous rice flour, Food shops delivering baking ingredients to your country
How do I use Glutinous rice flour?
Rice cakes and doughs that specify glutinous rice flour, Kimchi paste when the recipe calls for a cooked rice-flour mixture
Can I substitute Glutinous rice flour?
Ordinary rice flour, wheat flour and cornstarch behave differently. Do not swap them in equal quantities when a recipe depends on the sticky texture of glutinous rice flour.
How should I store Glutinous rice flour?
Store according to the product label. Dry flour and moist or frozen rice flour have different storage requirements.