Development of sweet potato flour based high protein and low calorie gluten free cookies

Sharif MS, Md Nor N. The Physicochemical Analysis and Anthocyanin Level of Malaysian Purple Sweet Potato Cracker

Purple Sweet Potato (PSP) in Malaysia is an abandoned crop. Even though it has various health benefits and nutritional values, consumers, especially Malaysians, still lack purple sweet potato consumption. It has a high dietary fibre content, a low glycemic index, and contains proteins, minerals, polyphenols, and anthocyanin. The National Health Morbidity Survey (Malaysia) in 2019 reported that 94% of Malaysian adults lack fiber consumption in their dietary patterns. As a result, it may become an alternative crop for individuals who consume less nutrients and fibre as a result of dietary choices and health issues. This one-of-a-kind crop also contains anti-oxidative, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-obesity, and anti-aging qualities. Due to the lack of a commercial food product based on this crop, it has become an unpopular crop among Malaysians. Purple sweet potato makes only a few Malaysian sweets and traditional snacks. Nonetheless, Malaysian customers continue to ignore it. Thus, Purple Sweet Potato Cracker was made, and a proximate analysis was conducted to examine its physicochemical content. It was found that the newly developed PSP crackers were high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, as well as in calcium (1332.08 mg/kg) and contained anthocyanins of 6.68 mg/L. Besides that, this special cracker is free from food preservatives without coloring agents and additives. The processing of Purple Sweet Potato Cracker carries important features for small-medium entrepreneurs, which will contribute to the Malaysian economy perspectives, as it has a good potential to be marketed in domestic and international commercial food outlets.

The Impact of Innovative Plant Sources (Cordia myxa L. Fruit (Assyrian Plum) and Phoenix dactylifera L. Biowaste (Date Pit)) on the Physicochemical, Microstructural, Nutritional, and Sensorial Properties of Gluten-Free Biscuits

The gluten-free products available on the markets are deficient in bioactive compounds and high in cost. The present study is designed to develop gluten-free biscuits with enhanced nutritional properties. The gluten-free biscuits are formulated with rice flour (RF) incorporated with Assyrian plum fruit flour (APF) and bio-waste date-pit flour (DPF) according to the following ratios; RF:DPF:APF (100:0:0)/T0, (90:5:5)/T1, (80:10:10)/T2, and (70:15:15)/T3. The results demonstrate that flour blends with different concentrations of APF and DPF incorporated in RF have high contents of protein, damaged starch, crude fiber, ash, phytochemicals, and antioxidants in contrast to 100% RF, which shows the lowest values for all these parameters. The pasting properties of the flour blends reveals that the values of peak, final, breakdown, and setback viscosities reduce from T1 to T3. Similarly, a differential scanning calorimeter reveals that the phase transition temperature of the flour blends decreases with the increasing amylose content. Moreover, the scanning electron microscopy of the biscuit samples shows a positive contribution of APF and DPF for the development of the desired compactness of the structure due to the leaching of amylose content from the starch. The total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) increase from 38.43 to 132.20 mg GAE/100 g DW and 18.67 to 87.27 mg CE/100 g DW, respectively. Similarly, the antioxidant activities of biscuits improved. The protein and fiber contents of the biscuits increased from 10.20 to 14.73% and 0.69 to 12.25%, respectively. The biscuits prepared from T3 resulted in a firmer texture with a reduced spread ratio. However, the formulation of T1 and T2 biscuit samples contributed to desirable physical and sensory properties. Therefore, the addition of DPF and APF to RF is a sustainable way to make gluten-free biscuits as they provide adequate amylose, damaged starch, and fiber content to overcome the essential role of gluten in the baked product with nutraceutical properties.

Development of pearl millet flour-based cookies supplemented with mung bean and orange fleshed sweet potato flours

The study explored the feasibility of producing cookies from pearl millet flour (PMF), mung bean flour (MF) and orange fleshed sweet potato flour (OFSPF). Sixteen formulations were produced by mixing the three basic ingredients: PMF, MF and OFSPF using optimal mixture design of response surface methodology. The sensory properties of cookies developed from these flour blends were evaluated and the result showed variations among cookie samples. Three samples were selected from the optimization results and compared with 100% wheat flour cookies (control). The selected flour blend samples showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in swelling capacity and water absorption capacity. Supplementation with MF improved the protein content of cookie samples while PMF led to an appreciable increase in crude fibre, β-carotene and total phenol contents. This study has confirmed that the production of acceptable cookies of high crude fibre, micronutrients and antioxidant sources that would help reduce the problems of malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases is feasible through the optimization of the basic ingredients.

Development and nutritional evaluation of multigrain gluten free cookies and pasta products

Present study was undertaken for development of gluten free processed products i.e. cookies and pasta by incorporation of gluten-free ingredients in different proportions. Gluten free raw ingredients i. e. finger millet (FM), pearl millet (PM), soya bean (SB) and groundnut (GN) were assessed for their nutritional characteristics. Results of nutritional analysis concluded that these ingredients are a rich source of crude fibre, protein, fat and ash or mineral content. Different formulations were prepared depending on variation of ingredients in each formulation. In case of cookies, the formulation containing all the four ingredients i. e. FM, PM, SB and GN in equal proportion (25% each) was liked most and scored highest on 9-point hedonic rating scale. Whereas, in case of steamed pasta (PS) and steamed as well as fried pasta (PF) products, the most acceptable formulation was the one containing 30% PM, 35% FM and 35% SB flour. Also, PF was liked more than PS as frying increased the palatability of fried products. Although, all formulations of both products were moderately acceptable having organoleptic score more than 7.0 as per assessment on 9 point hedonic rating scale but, the formulations containing higher amount of pearl millet were scored slightly lower as compared to other formulation mainly due to the lower values for sensory parameters such as colour, flavour and texture of such products. Incorporation of nutritious gluten free ingredients increased the content of essential nutrients such as crude fibre, crude fat, crude proteins and mineral or ash contents to a significant (P≤0.05) extent as compared to control.