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Noodles are good vehicles for the enrichment and can be enriched with vegetable purees. However, this enrichment can alter quality attributes of noodles with resultant effect on its sensorial attributes. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of addition of different hydrocolloids on the microstructural and quality characteristics of instant noodles enriched with spinach puree.

Preliminary trials were carried out for the standardization level of addition of spinach puree in noodle formulation. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and guar gum were added in the noodle formulation at 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 per cent level of incorporation. The effect of addition of hydrocolloids was evaluated on the cooking quality, sensory attributes, texture characteristics and microstructure of the noodles.

The most acceptable ratio for the formulation of the noodles was found to be 40 g spinach puree per 100 g refined wheat flour. Addition of hydrocolloids resulted in the increase in the cooking time, cooking weight, water absorption and swelling index. Significant decrease in the cooking loss was observed with the increase in the level of CMC (from 7.4 to 6.1 per cent) and guar gum (from 7.4 to 7 per cent). Addition of CMC and guar gum up to 0.5 per cent and 0.25 per cent, respectively, improved the texture, overall acceptability and mouthfeel attributing to complimentary interaction between starch, fibre and hydrocolloids observed at microstructural level; however, further increase in the level of incorporation resulted in stickiness and sliminess in the noodle strands.

It is found that 0.5 per cent CMC and 0.25 per cent guar gum can be used for the enhancement of quality characteristics of the spinach puree enriched noodles.

Intervention of incorporation of hydrocolloids in spinach puree–enriched instant noodles delivers healthy and nutritious product without compromising on its sensorial and quality attributes.

Pasta is popularly consumed in developed and developing countries. Many low-income homes that could not afford protein-rich foods consumed pasta without further supplements as a meal. However, pasta is deficient in protein and some other health-promoting substances. Deoiled sesame and amaranth flours are rich in protein, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and many non-nutrient-based health benefits. Formulating a nutrient-dense pasta product (spaghetti) would reduce protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and improve the health status of pasta consumers. This study aims to investigate some bioactive, nutrients and non-nutrient components of developed and optimized spaghetti pasta from deoiled sesame, amaranth and modified sorghum starch blend.

Amaranth, sorghum and sesame grains were sorted, wet-cleaned and dried. Sesame grain was roasted while starch was extracted from sorghum grain. The innate starch was modified by heat-moisture treatment. The prepared grains and starch were milled into flours and formulated into different flour mixtures using the Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology and the process was modeled and optimized. The flour mixtures were made into spaghetti pasta. Proximate, mineral, amino acids, biological value, protein efficiency ration, phytochemical, antioxidant activity, physico-functional and sensory properties of the formulated spaghetti were evaluated using standard procedures.

An optimal mixture of deoiled sesame (31.12g/100g), amaranth (56.56g/100g) and modified sorghum starch (12.32g/100g) were established, which yielded protein (25.79g/100g), appearance (96.65%), taste (94.57%) and acceptability index (97.37%). The spaghetti was significantly (p-values ranged from 0.001 to 0.018) superior in protein, ash, fat, fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, alkaloids, total phenolic, flavonoids, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazl (DPPH) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) relative to the control (100% wheat flour). Amino acid showed that the product is rich in histidine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and threonine. The high essential amino acid index of the product indicated that it is a good protein source. The spaghetti was significantly (p-values ranged from 0.001 to 0.021) superior in aroma, taste and acceptability index relative to the control.

This study showed the feasibility of developing spaghetti pasta from deoiled sesame, amaranth grains and modified sorghum starch. The production process described in this study is scalable; and the process could be applied on a small scale for the development of self-entrepreneurs and industrially. The high protein content of the product indicated that it could be used to reduce PEM in developing countries.