Rice crackers are one of Indonesia's traditional snacks, made from cooked glutinous rice that is flattened, dried, and then fried until crispy. The taste is delicious with the natural sweetness of glutinous rice, making it perfect to accompany tea or coffee.

Here's a complete guide to making crispy and durable homemade rice crackers.

# Rice Cracker Ingredients

Yields approximately 40-50 pieces of rice crackers (depending on size):

  • 500 grams of white glutinous rice (can be mixed with a little black glutinous rice for color variation)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 100–150 ml thin coconut milk or water (for cooking the glutinous rice)
  • Cooking oil to taste (for frying)
  • Clear plastic/heat-resistant plastic, for a base when flattening

Tips for Choosing Ingredients:

  • Use whole glutinous rice, try not to have too many broken grains to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the rice crackers.
  • Do not wash the glutinous rice too vigorously to prevent it from breaking too much.

# Equipment Needed

  • Steamer or pot for steaming the glutinous rice
  • Mortar/glass bottle/flattening tool
  • Tray or bamboo tray (for drying)
  • Wok for frying
  • Slotted spoon/strainer

# Complete Steps for Making Rice Crackers

# 1. Preparing and Steaming the Glutinous Rice

  1. Wash the glutinous rice until the water is no longer cloudy.
  2. Drain for about 15 minutes.
  3. Mix the glutinous rice with salt, stir well.
  4. Steam the glutinous rice for about 20 minutes.
  5. Remove, then gradually pour in the thin coconut milk/hot water little by little, stirring until evenly distributed and the glutinous rice is slightly moist but not mushy.
  6. Steam again for about 15-20 minutes until the glutinous rice is fully cooked and soft.

The glutinous rice must be completely cooked and soft so that it is easy to flatten and does not break easily.

# 2. Shaping and Flattening the Glutinous Rice

  1. Prepare clear plastic that has been thinly coated with oil (to prevent the glutinous rice from sticking).
  2. Take a small amount of hot glutinous rice (about 1 tablespoon), shape it into a small ball.
  3. Place it between two sheets of plastic.
  4. Flatten by:
    • Pressing with a small mortar, or
    • Rolling with a glass bottle to a thickness of about 1-2 mm.
  5. Trim the edges of the rice cracker to make it round or oval.

Repeat this process until all the glutinous rice is used up. Place the flattened rice crackers on a tray or bamboo tray that has been lightly oiled/lined with plastic.

# 3. Drying the Rice Crackers

This is an important step to make the rice crackers crispy and durable.

Option 1: Sun-Drying

  1. Place the rice crackers in direct sunlight.
  2. Turn them over occasionally so they dry evenly.
  3. Drying time may be 1-2 days, depending on the intensity of the sun and the thickness of the rice crackers.
  4. Make sure the rice crackers are completely dry, hard, and no longer feel moist.

Option 2: Low-Temperature Baking

If there is no strong sunlight:

  1. Place the rice crackers on a baking sheet.
  2. Bake in a low-temperature oven (about 80-100°C) for 1-2 hours.
  3. Turn them over once or twice until they are evenly dry.

# 4. Frying the Rice Crackers

  1. Heat plenty of oil over medium heat.
  2. Make sure the oil is hot before putting in the rice crackers (test with one piece first).
  3. Fry the dried rice crackers in small batches (do not overcrowd so they do not stick together).
  4. Fry quickly until they puff up and turn golden brown.
  5. Remove and drain on kitchen paper/wire rack to reduce oil.
  6. Let cool before storing.

Do not fry for too long; the rice crackers can burn and become bitter.

# Rice Cracker Flavor Variations

For more appeal, various flavors can be added to the rice crackers:

  • Sweet Rice Crackers: After frying, sprinkle with fine sugar or powdered vanilla sugar.

  • Savory Rice Crackers: Add minced garlic and a little broth powder to the glutinous rice before the second steaming.

  • Spicy Sweet Rice Crackers: After finishing, mix the rice crackers with a chili palm sugar sauce (similar to spicy caramel).

  • Sesame Rice Crackers: Before flattening, sprinkle sesame seeds on the surface of the glutinous rice while it is still hot, then dry as usual.

# Tips for Making Rice Crackers Crispy and Durable

  1. Make sure the rice crackers are completely dry before frying, with no moisture in the middle.
  2. Use new or still clear oil for beautiful and odorless rice crackers.
  3. Store in an airtight container after cooling, you can add food-grade silica gel if needed.
  4. If they start to feel soft, you can reheat them briefly in a low-temperature oven to restore their crispiness.

# Display and Home Business Ideas

Rice crackers can be sold as:

  • Canned snacks
  • Eid hampers/gifts
  • Complements to festive dishes along with other crackers

For business, pack them in thick, clear plastic with labels and expiration dates. Also, ensure consistency in taste and crispiness.

# Other References

For inspiration for other pastries and traditional snacks, you can check:

With the steps above, you can make crispy rice crackers yourself at home, both as a family snack and as a home business idea.