Thai Toasted Rice Powder (Khao Khua)

Toasted rice powder adds a wonderfully nutty and toasty flavour and a little bite to dishes it’s used in. Good news is, you can make it in about 15 minutes, give or take.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Thai toasted rice powder in a tiny black bowl
Thai toasted rice powder

What is Toasted Rice Powder?

Known in Thai as Khao Khua, toasted rice powder is very simply, glutinous rice (or sticky rice) that’s been dry toasted in a frying pan, then ground to a powdered form.

In Thai:

  • khao = rice
  • khua = dry toast/roast in a pan

Toasted rice powder is an essential ingredient in Thailand and, especially in Isan and Lao dishes. It adds flavour and texture to a dish, and also acts as a thickening agent when used in soups.

In Myanmar (Burma), instead of this, they use toasted rice flour, which when you think about it, is practically the same thing!

toasted rice powder

How to make Khao Khua?

It’s very, very easy to do at home and only takes a few minutes. All you need is dry, uncooked rice, and this is what we’ll be doing:

  1. Dry toast the rice in a frying pan for 7-10 minutes.
  2. Leave to cool, then grind in a coffee or spice mill to a powdered form.

That’s it. And you can store your homemade khao khua with your other spices, in an airtight container, for up to 6 months.

What Rice should You Use?

The best kind of rice to use when making toasted rice powder is Thai glutinous or sticky rice. The starch content of the grains make a noticeable difference to the aroma of the toasted rice, as well as its thickening ability.

In these modern times, Thai ingredients should be fairly easy to get in most parts of the world, I think. However, if you can’t find Thai glutinous rice where you are, you can use pudding rice, sushi rice or even risotto rice.

How to use Toasted Rice Powder?

It’s traditionally used for sprinkling on salads, soups and noodles. And you can use it right across the board on many South East Asian dishes.

One of the most traditional ways to use khao khua is in Nam Jim Jaew, a hot, sour, smoky and slightly sweet Thai dipping sauce, as seen in the image below.

nam jim jaew, Thai dipping sauce in a yellow bowl
Nam Jim Jaew

If you enjoy the recipe, drop me a comment and let me know. And if you are feeling like a star, don’t forget that 5-star rating!

If you make this recipe, post it on Instagram and tag me @azlinbloor and hashtag it #linsfood.

Lin xx

Thai toasted rice powder in a tiny black bowl

Toasted Rice Powder Recipe (Khao Khua)

Toasted Rice Powder or Khao Khua is Thai glutinous rice that's pan toasted, cooled, then pounded to a fine grind.
4.94 from 44 votes
Print Pin Add to Collection
Course: Ingredients
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: khao khua, rice
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 (used as a garnish)
Calories: 27kcal
Author: Azlin Bloor

Equipment

  • 1 frying pan
  • 1 spice or coffee mill

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp Thai glutinous rice (or more, depending on what your recipe calls for)

Instructions

  • Heat a small frying pan on medium low heat. Toast the rice DRY in the pan, for 7-10 minutes, shaking the pan frequently so all the rice gets a good browning.
    Toasted Rice Powder Recipe
  • Let cool for about 5 minute, then either pound in a pestle and mortar or blitz by pulsing in a coffee mill. That's it! Use it all up or store in an airtight container with the rest of your spices.
    Use within 2 months, as it starts getting stale after that.
    Toasted Rice Powder Recipe

Nutrition

Calories: 27kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 6mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @azlinbloor and tag #linsfood!
Made it? Upload your photosMention @azlinbloor and tag #linsfood!

Share this with someone who'll love it!

1 thought on “Thai Toasted Rice Powder (Khao Khua)”

  1. Jayashree T.Rao

    5 stars
    Good to know about khao khua Azlin. We do not roast the rice for the rice flour which we use here in most of our cooking.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating