PURPOSE: To prepare rice flour having high gelatinization-initiation temperature, and giving a dumpling having white color, high toughness, excellent water- absorption and preservability, and good palatability, by subjecting the water- washed and moisture-controlled polished rice to fine powder, and drying the product.

CONSTITUTION: Polished rice is washed with water, controlled to a water-content of 20W22%, heated to 45W55°C indirectly from the outside of the vessel with steam, hot-water, etc. under stirring, and subjected to the hot-wet treatment for 20W30min. The treated rice is dried, milled to fine powder, and again dried at 50W55°C for 3W5sec to obtain rice flour having a water-content of about 13%.