What is Rice Bread?

Rice bread is a popular bread choice for people who eat a gluten-free diet, whether by choice or due to an allergy or sensitivity.

Gluten-free foods have increased in popularity due to the rise of both Celiac and non-Celiac gluten intolerances, and rice is a great option for those with this kind of diet needs.

The main ingredient in rice bread is rice flour, a gluten-free flour made of ground rice. The rice flour replaces the traditional wheat flour that is found in most bread products.

Rice bread can be enjoyed any way you would enjoy traditional bread, as a sandwich, toasted with a hearty breakfast, and everything in between.

The History of Rice Bread

During colonial times, rice bread was an accidental discovery when regular whole wheat flour became expensive and scarce in the United States. At first, rice was mixed in with regular flour to act as a filler and extend the life of the available flour, but cooks quickly found that bread could effectively be made from all rice flour.

Rice bread became popular with slaves in the Southern United States in places like the Lowcountry area of South Carolina.

Many of the slave cooks in these regions were sent to France to learn how to cook or had been passed down French cooking traditions. They made rice bread using a similar method to baking sourdough and found that it was a great option.

Fast-forward to today, rice bread is almost unheard of unless you are in the gluten-free community. Some chefs in the south are trying to help rice bread make a comeback by revamping some of the recipes that have been passed down in families for generations.

Ingredients in Rice Bread

Here are the most common ingredients included in Rice Bread:

• Rice Flour
• Xanthan Gum (if the flour doesn’t include it)
• Egg
• Salt
• Sugar
• Gluten-Free Yeast
• Water

Rice Bread Nutritional Information

Rice bread is a comparable bread substitute with a similar nutritional profile to other types of bread. It generally has about 200-250 calories per slice, so it’s a healthy, nutritious option for your favorite sandwich or recipe.

One of the benefits of rice bread is that rice is full of vitamins and minerals. It is a great source of manganese, zinc, and iron, all essential in a balanced, healthy diet.

Some other nutritional benefits of rice bread include it being lower in sodium than regular bread and low in cholesterol.

How to Make Rice Bread

Unlike most other bread types, rice bread is actually pretty simple to make at home. It only calls for minimal ingredients, and doesn’t require days of preparation beforehand or a tricky “starter”.

Start your rice bread off by mixing together all of your ingredients at room temperature, this step is very important to make sure the dough sets up properly. Room temperature dough will make sure you get the optimal rice bread consistency.

Mix together the ingredients using a stand mixer for best results. Place your finished dough into the pan of your choice and set it on a warm countertop to allow it to rise to double its original height.

Once the rice bread dough has risen to twice the original height of the dough you placed in the pan, it’s time to bake. Bake following the specific recipe instructions or until the bread is a beautiful golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before slicing and serving.

Rice Bread Recipes

Most rice bread recipes are straightforward and simple. Chances are you have most of the ingredients to make rice bread right in your pantry. If so, just grab your best bread pan and get to mixing!

There are not many different rice bread recipe variations, although some will call for both brown and white rice flour whereas others use just one or the other. You can try out both types to see which style gives you the flavor you prefer.

Rice bread has such a mild flavor on its own, so it takes on the flavor of whatever you serve it with. You can make a delicious sandwich with it, make a fancy avocado toast, or tear it up and make a gluten-free French toast casserole.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 packet of active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup warm milk

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine bread flour, cooked rice, sugar, and salt.
2. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit for 10 minutes.
3. Add yeast mixture, vegetable oil, and warm milk to the large bowl and mix until a dough forms.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes.
5. Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 1-2 hours.
6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
7. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a loaf. Place the loaf on a greased baking sheet.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Rice Bread FAQ's