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    Home » Recipes » Gluten Free Breads

    Gluten Free Chinese Onion Bread

    Published: Jan 26, 2025 by Cinde LittleThis post may contain affiliate links3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This gluten free Chinese Onion Bread is a version of the flatbreads sold from street vendors in northern China. With a salty bite, similar to a pretzel, it's a nice addition to any Chinese or Chinese fusion meal.

    A plate of Chinese Onion Bread cut into wedges and garnished with cilantro.

    I make this bread throughout the year and serve it with my everyday stir fry, Salmon in Chinese Pesto, Lion's Head Meatballs or one of the many Chinese dishes that I've been making for decades.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions for Chinese Onion Bread
    • Substitutions: Flour for Flatbread
    • 5 Recipes for Sesame Oil
    • Storage
    • Equipment
    • Top Tip
    • Gluten Free Chinese Onion Bread

    Ingredients

    When I recreated this recipe I knew my EGFG flour blend would be too light for what I needed. I experimented by adding a portion of another flour and chickpea flour was the winner.

    • EGFG gluten free flour blend - This everyday flour blend is a good starting point but breads need more structure so it's always about finding the balance.
    • Chickpea flour - This high protein flour adds the needed structure for this bread.
    • Xanthan gum - This also helps with structure in all recipes with gluten free flour.
    • Sesame oil, green onion, cilantro and sesame seeds - Together these are the ingredients that give this bread the classic taste I was looking for.
    • Sweet rice flour - My dusting flour for most gluten free baking.

    See recipe card for exact amounts.

    Instructions for Chinese Onion Bread

    When someone else is making dinner this is a job for the second person. After a little practise these steps become easy and you'll want to make it every now and then.

    A round of dough for Chinese flatbread topped with green onion, cilantro and sesame seeds.
    Step 1. Roll the dough into a circle. Brush with sesame oil and top with green onion, cilantro and sesame seeds.
    A log of Chinese onion bread being rolled into a circle.
    Step 2. Once rolled up the log is then shaped back into a circle before being rolled out again.
    Step 3. Fry the flatbread, in a generous amount of oil, until golden brown on both sides.

    Substitutions: Flour for Flatbread

    In my research on similar flatbreads I found recipes using oat flour, millet flour and corn flour. I didn't try them all but gluten free cooks need options.

    Sometimes I choose a flour because I think I don't have enough recipes to keep it moving in my pantry. Other times I'm not getting the taste or texture I want.

    I encourage you to substitute flours and learn what works for you. That might mean making a few batches of this recipe at one time or over a few weeks. That's the best way to create recipes you love.

    5 Recipes for Sesame Oil

    Sesame oil is used as a flavouring in Asian recipes. It has an assertive taste that works well in soups, breads, stir fries and salad dressings. It won't last forever so once you buy it here are five more recipes to use it in.

    • Spicy Sesame Noodle Salad
    • Green Salad with Asian dressing
    • Korean Short Ribs
    • Sesame Salmon on Greens
    • Hoisin Glazed Pork Ribs

    Storage

    Just eat it all! A piece the next day is fine but it will never be as good as eating it right after it's made.

    Equipment

    Cooks need tools but they also need cookbooks and ingredients.

    • If you're new to gluten free Asian cooking, check out my post to set up your Gluten Free Asian Pantry.
    • If you don't have it, buy sesame oil and add it to your pantry.
    • The Asian fusion cookbook titled Pacific Flavours, by Hugh Carpenter, forever changed what we eat in our kitchen. I have a few of his many cookbooks and attended a cooking class by him many years ago.

    Top Tip

    Bread is a category that challenges gluten free cooks. Find a few flatbreads or wraps that you like and commit to making them a few times. I guarantee, once you've made any recipe at least three times, it just starts to get easier. Just do it!

    A plate of Chinese Onion Bread cut into wedges.

    Gluten Free Chinese Onion Bread

    This is a version of the flatbreads sold from street vendors in northern China. With a salty bite, similar to a pretzel, it's a nice addition to any Chinese or Chinese fusion meal.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Baking, Bread
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Keyword: chinese onion bread
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 pieces
    Calories: 123kcal
    Author: Cinde Little

    Ingredients

    • 1½ cups EGFG gluten free flour blend*
    • ½ cup chickpea flour
    • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
    • ¾ cup boiling water

    TOPPING

    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoon minced green onion , white and green part
    • 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
    • ½ tablespoon sesame seeds
    • sweet rice flour for dusting**
    • oil for frying
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Measure flour and xanthan gum into a food processor.
    • Pulse a few times to mix the flour. With the processor running add hot water until the mixture comes together as dough. Remove from processor and flatten into a disk. Cover with plastic and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
    • Use a small amount of sweet rice flour to dust the dough as you roll it out to a 10-inch circle.
    • Spread sesame oil over top of dough.
    • Sprinkle with salt, green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds.
    • Using your hands roll the dough into a long rope.
    • Pinch the ends then starting at one end coil the dough into a circle. Flatten it withy our hands then roll the coil into a 10-inch or 11-inch circle. Flip it over a few times dusting it with small amounts of flour to prevent it from sticking to the counter.
    • Sprinkle additional sesame seeds on top pressing into the dough, if desired.
    • Heat oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat.
    • When very hot gently place the round of dough into the frying pan.
    • Cook turning every 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, 8-10 minutes.
    • Cut in wedges and serve warm. Best eaten the day it is made.

    Notes

    *EGFG flour blend: sweet rice flour (300g), potato starch (300g), sorghum flour (200g), millet flour (200g)
    **Tapioca starch and sweet rice flour are both good choices for dusting dough. An all-purpose blend isn't necessary and one with a binder is not recommended.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Gluten Free Chinese Onion Bread
    Amount Per Serving (2 pieces)
    Calories 123 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 0.3g2%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Sodium 447mg19%
    Potassium 71mg2%
    Carbohydrates 21g7%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 25IU1%
    Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
    Calcium 25mg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cinde Little

      January 26, 2025 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      We love this tasty flatbread and have been making it for years. I hope you'll try it!

      Reply
    2. Patti Stark

      September 14, 2023 at 9:23 pm

      Hi Cindy,
      I wanted to make this onion bread but there doesn't seem to be any instructions with the recipe. Are they located somewhere else?

      Thanks,
      Patti

      Reply
      • Cinde Little

        September 14, 2023 at 9:57 pm

        Hi Patti and thanks for letting me know about the missing instructions. I've added them in along with some pictures. I hope that's helpful for you. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

        Reply

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    A plate of gluten free Chinese Onion Bread cut into wedges and garnished with cilantro.

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