Compositional and processing effects in promoting the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc of ready to cook high protein kheer mix

• Published in: Food science & technology 2019-07, Vol.109, p.186-193
• Main Authors: Panda, Swarna Latha, Jaiswal, Aishwarya, Lakshmi A, Jyothi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Drum drying; High protein kheer; Mineral bioaccessibility; Phytase activation; Phytic acid
• ISSN: 0023-6438; 1096-1127
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2019.04.026

Iron and zinc deficiencies are the major micronutrient deficiencies of public health resulting from poor bioavailability due to the presence of phytic acid from plant foods. The investigation was undertaken to formulate a high protein kheer mix using different legumes and processing by different modes of thermal and enzymatic treatment and identify the one with maximum bioaccessibility of minerals. Semolina based kheer mixes with different decorticated split legumes (dhal) were formulated by adopting different modes of thermal treatment such as dry and moist heat. Phytase treatment was tested in one of the processing methods. The ready to cook kheer mix formulation with different legumes contained 20–34% protein, 3.4–11.7 mg iron and 2.1–3.0 mg zinc per 100 g. Bioaccessibility of minerals was negligible due to high phytic acid content. A strong negative correlation existed between the iron bioaccessibility and phytic acid in raw and processed mixes. Among the treatments adopted, a combination of enzymatic and moist heat treatment was found to be effective in promoting the bioaccessibility of minerals. The enhancement noticed in bioaccessible iron was 2.0–2.6 fold and 2.0–4.0 fold for zinc in reconstituted kheer with good organoleptic scores. Further trials with fortification of minerals are warranted. •Ready to cook kheer mixes with 20–34% protein and low mineral bioaccessibility.•The kheer mixes were processed by phytase, dry, and moist heat treatment.•Phytase activated and drum dried treatment dephytinised the mix to the maximum extent.•The reconstituted kheer showed significant enhancement in bioaccessible minerals.