Pulses in and Breading Applications

Consumer demand for higher levels of protein and fiber is increasing. The use of pulse ingredients in Key Findings food formulations provides opportunities for food • Native pea starch can completely manufacturers to meet this demand. replace modified corn starch in coatings for , This research evaluated the suitability of pea starch, flour, hull fiber and mozzarella sticks and rings protein combinations as replacements for corn starch, wheat, soy and with minimal impact on processing corn flours, wheat gluten, gums, whey and color in coatings for fried food and product quality applications, including French fries, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and more. Two native (unmodified) pea starches, three pea flours, three pea hull • Substituting dry pea ingredients (starch, flour and/or fiber) for fibers and one pea protein traditional ingredients can create TABLE 1 Pulse ingredients evaluated isolate (Table 1) obtained food products with a cleaner in French fry, mozzarella stick and onion from Canadian ingredient label, including enhanced nutrient ring applications content claims for fiber, with suppliers were evaluated as limited effects on functionality FRACTIONATION replacements for wheat flour, INGREDIENT METHOD and sensory properties corn flour, gum, and coloring. Starch 1 (S-1) Wet • Dry pea ingredients in fry coatings enhance flavor, color Starch 2 (S-2) Dry and nutritional content and Whole pea flour (WPF) Dry create opportunities for gluten-free coatings Split pea flour (SPF-1) Dry • Ingredient cost-savings may be Split pea flour (SPF-2) Dry possible with the substitution of Pea hull fiber (PHF-1) Dry pea ingredients Pea hull fiber (PHF-2) Dry Pea hull fiber (PHF-3) Wet Pea protein isolate (PPI) Wet Pulses in Batter and Breading Applications

The research was undertaken in EVALUATION OF PEA STARCH AS CORN two phases: (1) cook-up and instant starch replacement and (2) optimized STARCH REPLACEMENT coatings with pea ingredients. Two native starches were evaluated independently as 100% replacements In the three food applications, Unlike the French fry applications, for modified corn starch in the coating batters containing wet or dry there was no significant difference in mixtures. In the second phase, the fractionated native pea starch batter viscosity observed between selected pea starch was combined generally performed at an acceptable the wet and dry fractionated pea with the other pea ingredients (pea level compared to the control batter starches in the mozzarella sticks. protein, pea flour and/or pea hull fiber) containing chemically modified, wet However, the S-2 pea starch did to optimize the coating formulations milled corn starch. All test batters have higher total moisture content for French fries, mozzarella sticks and were process capable; however there than the control and the S-1 pea onion rings. Commercial formulations were some notable differences in the starch. The trained sensory panel commonly used for these fry functional and sensory attributes for rated the coated mozzarella sticks applications formed the base for the each application between the two made with both pea starches as ingredient modifications. pea starches. similar to the control mozzarella sticks for all attributes. Significant All fry products were analyzed for The dry-fractionated pea starch (S- differences between the two physicochemical characteristics, sensory 2) produced significantly thickened starches were noted, however, attributes, and nutritional profile. batter compared to French fries after 45 minutes holding: S-2 pea made with the control cook-up starch mozzarella sticks were crisper starch or the wet-fractionated pea and crunchier, had a softer cheese starch (S-1). No other significant texture and a slight beany flavor differences were noted for the other compared to the S-1 pea starch or Opportunities characteristics (batter pick-up, par fry control mozzarella sticks. yield, crumb production, cook yield or weight loss) between the two pea In the onion rings, pea starch had Gluten-Free starches. However, sensory panelist minimal effect on batter viscosity Cleaner label ratings suggested that French fries with no significant differences noted made with S-1 pea starch were more (Table 2). All batters were process Enhanced color moist and more similar to the control capable as expected due to the small than fries made with the S-2 starch percentage of starch in the batter Improved nutrient profile which produced crisper, more golden (3%). The control and the coating Ingredient cost reduction fries with a slightly rougher surface made with S-1 pea starch had texture after 5 and 30 minutes significantly higher coating pick-up holdings in a food warmer. than onion rings using the S-2 pea starch (S-2). The par yields were all significantly different. No significant TABLE 2 Effect of pea starch on the physicochemical difference was noted in cook yield characteristics of coated onion rings between the control and pea starch CONTROL PEA STARCH PEA STARCH containing coatings. Pea starch

CORN STARCH PEA (S-1) PEA (S-2) onion rings did lose more moisture than the control during full frying Batter Viscosity (cp) 675.75 661.25 626.00 but since the cook yield and weight Coating Pick-up (%) 54.34b 55.6b 50.94a loss over time was not affected, Par Fry yield, % 55.87b 57.68c 52.98a moisture loss could have been offset Cook Yield, % 70.74 70.79 69.64 by fat uptake. Weight Loss @30 min, % 3.94 4.13 3.3 Preliminary testing of pea protein Weight Loss @ 45 min, % 5.61 5.79 4.75 isolate as a replacement for 25% of Weight Loss @ 60 min, % 7.23 7.32 6.14 the cook-up starch in the French Total Moisture 38.70b 27.00a 29.99a fry, mozzarella stick and onion ring a, b, c Means with differing superscripts are significantly applications resulted in thicker different (p<0.5) across rows batters, tougher coatings, TABLE 3 Effect of pea starch and pea flour on the physicochemical TABLE 4 Effect of pea starch and pea flour on characteristics of optimized battered French fries the physicochemical characteristics of optimized mozzarella sticks

CONTROL A B C D CONTROL PEA/WHEAT Cook up starch Corn Pea (S-1) Pea (S-1) Pea (S-1) Pea (S-1) Cook up starch Corn Pea (S-1) Instant starch Corn Corn Pea (S-1) Corn Pea (S-1) Flour Wheat & Whole pea

corn flour (SPF-2) Flour Wheat/Corn Split Pea Split Pea Whole Pea Whole Pea (SPF-2) (SPF-2) (WPF) (WPF) Other Guar gum, Pea fiber gluten (PFH-3) Batter Viscosity (cp) 423.5a 567.5bc 613.0c 576.5bc 509.0b Batter Viscosity (cp) 199.67 167.50 Batter Pick-up (%) 14.89a 14.44a 14.49a 18.44b 19.14b Batter Pick-up (%) 62.87 62.45 Par Fry Yield, % 84.73b 90.31c 90.85c 77.01a 82.06b Par Fry Yield, % 102.35 102.87 Crumb Production, % 1.92ab 1.17 a 1.64ab 3.27b 3.24b Cook Yield, % 90.66 90.92 Cook Yield, % 72.32 74.52 69.24 75.50 71.16 Weight Loss @30 min, % 0.61 0.47 Weight Loss, % 2.52a 2.56a 4.35b 2.15a 2.29a Weight Loss @45 min, % 1.00 0.74 Total Moisture 65.90 64.90 64.20 65.10 63.9 Weight Loss @60 min, % 1.40 1.07 a, b, c Means with differing superscripts are significantly different (pL0.05) across rows Total Moisture 36.07a 37.19b

a, b, c Means with differing superscripts are significantly different (p<0.5) across rows

OPTIMIZED PEA INGREDIENT FORMULATIONS

French Fries Sensory evaluations indicated that The most promising French fry French fries made with pea starch and prototypes were those batters pea flours had increased crispness and containing pea starch and pea flour. tenderness compared to control fries Four optimized French fry prototypes and were considered to have slightly were developed where S-1 pea starch high to moderately high overall quality. replaced both the cook-up corn starch and combinations of S-1 starch or Mozzarella Sticks instant corn starch and split pea flour Mozzarella sticks utilized a combination (SPF-2) and whole pea flour (WPF) of pea starch, pea flour and pea hull replaced the three traditional flours fiber in the six-step coating system (all purpose and soft wheat and corn), to fully replace corn starch/flour and xanthan gum and caramel color. Pea wheat flour. Guar gum and wheat hull fiber and pea protein isolate gluten from the test batter and pre- addition were assessed but did not dust were replaced with pea flour and improve the sensory or nutritional pea hull fiber. No significant differences quality of the battered French fries. in batter viscosity, par fry yield cook yield or weight loss over time were a mealy texture and a beany All test batters were thicker than observed (Table 4). flavor and thus, further testing the control and batter viscosity was discontinued. optimization needs to be further The optimized pea/wheat prototype investigated to achieve optimum water was significantly more golden with For all three products, the S-1 hydration. Pea flour equal to or less softer cheese and more beany flavor (wet fractionated) pea starch than 425 microns in size with water than the control, but no differences in was chosen to replace the holding capacity equal to or less than coating texture or overall quality were modified corn starch ingredients 100% would reduce excess viscosity. noted by sensory panelists. Differences in the optimized formulas as the Batters containing whole pea flour had in color, cheese texture and flavor did functional properties of this pea significantly higher batter pick-up than not affect overall quality as the pea/ starch were generally more similar batters containing split pea flours but wheat and control mozzarella sticks to the control products and had similar par fry yield, crumb production were similarly rated. less effect on texture and flavor. and cook yields (Table 3). Nutritional differences were noted Onion rings yield, weight loss over time and for par fried mozzarella sticks when In the optimization phase, S-1 pea moisture content after full frying. pea starch replaced corn starch starch was used in combination Compared to the control onion and other pea ingredients (flour with other pea ingredients as ring, the pea/wheat prototype was and fiber) were added. The pea replacements for corn starch, wheat more golden, darker in color and mozzarella sticks contained 0.7 g flour, corn flour, soy flour, wheat more beany in flavor. However, the per 100g more protein and 3.6 g per gluten, whey and guar gum. All pea beany flavor added a savory, roasted 100 g more dietary fiber than the flour batters required slightly higher background note that complemented control sticks (Figure 1). A “source levels of water to achieve similar the flavor of the onion. of fiber” claim can be made for both cook yield and appearance as the pea starch mozzarella sticks and for control onion rings. After testing, Nutritional analysis showed that the the optimized pea/wheat product, split pea flour (SPF-2), whole pea par fried optimized pea/wheat onion whereas the control mozzarella sticks flour (WPF) and pea hull fiber ring had more fiber, calcium, iron, do not meet the requirements to (PHF-3) were the pea ingredients fat and calories but less sodium than make a fiber claim. with the most potential. the control onion rings (Table 5). An “excellent source of fiber” The optimized pea/wheat onion ring nutrient content claim can be made had lower batter viscosity, coating for the optimized pea/wheat onion pick-up and par fry yield compared ring whereas, in the control onion to the control but it had similar cook ring, only a “good source of fiber” FIGURE 1 Nutritional comparison claim can be made. of par fried control and optimized pea mozzarella sticks (g/100g)

18 CONTROL 16 PEA 14 INGREDIENTS TABLE 5 Nutritional composition of par rings

12 PEA STARCH CONTROL (S-1) PEA/WHEAT 10 Protein (g/100g) 3.7 3.8 4.6 8 Fat (g/100g) 13.6 14.1 16.5 6 Dietary Fiber (g/100g) 8.4 7.9 10.1 4 Calcium (mg/100g) 20.1 22.6 33 2 Iron (mg/100g) 1.8 1.7 2 0 Sodium (mg/100g) 406.9 396.7 341 Protein Fat Dietary Fiber

This research was conducted by the Manitoba Food Development Centre with support from the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund, Alberta Pulse Growers Commission and Pulse Canada.

For more information, contact: Pulse Canada: [email protected] | 204-925-4455 | www.pulsecanada.com