In this study, we designed high fiber cookie recipe without using additives by means of extrusion-based 3D printing. We aimed to relate printing quality and cookie physical properties with dough rheology and dietary fiber content depending on the flour (oat, rye, rice, and carob flour) and fat type (olive oil or butter). The flour choice influenced all cookie quality parameters: baking loss, color, line height and width, and dietary fiber content. Results indicated that lower baking loss and better printing quality were obtained for cookie dough containing olive oil, which had higher viscosity and consistency coefficient compared with dough containing butter. Cookies with olive oil in which part of the oat flour was replaced with rye and carob flour were printed with high accuracy (≥98%), close to the ideal 3D shape. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of selecting fat and particularly flour, as well as the extrusion rate on the quality and repeatability of 3D-printed cookies.

An in-depth survey was conducted by collecting information from web sources, supplemented by interviews with experts and/or bakers, to identify all the flat breads (FBs) produced in the nine Mediterranean countries involved in the FlatBreadMine Project (Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta and Spain), and to have an insight into their technical and cultural features. A database with information on 143 FB types (51 single-layered, 15 double-layered, 66 garnished, 11 fried) was established. Flours were from soft wheat (67.4%), durum wheat (13.7%), corn (8.6%), rye, sorghum, chickpea, and chestnut (together 5.2%). The raising agents were compressed yeast (55.8%), sourdough (16.7%), baking powder (9.0%), but 18.6% of FBs were unleavened. Sixteen old-style baking systems were recorded, classified into baking plates and vertical ovens (tannur and tabun). Artisanal FBs accounted for 82%, while the industrial ones for 7%. Quality schemes (national, European or global) applied to 91 FBs. Fifteen FBs were rare, prepared only for family consumption: changes in lifestyle and increasing urbanization may cause their disappearance. Actions are needed to prevent the reduction of biodiversity related to FBs. Information in the database will be useful for the selection of FBs suitable to promotional activities and technical or nutritional improvement.

This study examined the effects of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on enzymes, non-starch polysaccharides, and bread-making potential of oat and barley flour. Enzyme activity, microstructure, β-glucan extractability, molecular weight (Mw) and structure of non-starch polysaccharides, dough rheology, and flat bread properties were determined. An exponential decay model explained better the residual activity of oat β-glucanase across electric field intensity than barley β-glucanase. PEF treatment of flour at 12 kV/cm for 162 ms significantly reduced β-glucanase activity (40.2–76.5%) while increasing the concentration of total β-glucans (33.5%) and water-extractable arabinoxylans (36–41%). Mw of linear β-d-glucans decreased (9%) while Mw of branched arabinoxylans increased (6–33%). Scanning electron microscopy showed changes in microstructure of barley proteins. Blending wheat flour (70%) with oat or barley flour (30% weight) after PEF treatment enhanced gluten aggregation energy (29–19%) and breakdown viscosity (18–43%) of dough, as well as increased β-glucan content (21–32%) but reduced specific volume (11–24%). The findings of this study provide a comprehensive insight into the PEF’s potential for retarding enzymatic reactions and preserving integrity of cereal non-starch polysaccharides.

Dough retardation is commonly used to extend dough shelf-life, but it poses a challenge for flatbreads due to their large surface. This study explored the sourdough fermentation of oats and barley, addressing challenges in the retardation of dough for flatbread. Sourdough, using flour only or flour blended with bran (3:1), was fermented with a LIVENDO LV1 starter at 30 °C for 24 h. The pH value, microbial viable cell count, total titratable acidity and organic acids concentration of the sourdough were measured. The properties of dough and flatbread, depending on the retardation time (24 h and 48 h), sourdough type (oat or barley) and sourdough level (30% or 50% dough weight), were investigated. Oat flour’s limited acidification improved with the inclusion of bran, resulting in a desirable pH, TTA, and lactic to acetic acid ratio after 15 h of fermentation, which were comparable to results achieved with barley sourdough. The sourdough addition slowed down the enzymatic browning of dough during retardation. Dough retardation at 24 h reduced the phytates content (32–38%) and crumb hardness (9–16%), depending on the sourdough type and level. In dough retardation, β-glucans were degraded by up to 9% in the case of oats and by up to 28% in the samples with barley. Overall, adding oat or barley sourdough at a 30% dough weight can be recommended to enhance flatbread’s nutritional value and prolong its shelf life.

Sourdough fermentation is rarely used for gluten-free flatbread (GFFB), a product that is challenging to produce, especially when using high-fiber ingredients that bring nutritional benefits but lead to physical deterioration. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the fermentation performance of carob flour (CSPF), proso millet flour (PMF), and proso millet bran (PMB) individually and in combination with Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Kluyveromyces marxianus (LF + KM) and to compare the performance of LF + KM with a commercial starter (LIVENDO^® LV1). A mixture design (n = 13) was used to evaluate the fermentation performance of LF + KM (total titratable acidity (TTA); lactobacilli and yeast growth; acetic and lactic acid, fructose, glucose, and saccharose content) at 35 °C for 16 h. The comparison of LF + KM with LV1 fermentation was based on the acidity rate, fermentation quotient, TTA, and finally by determining the physical properties (texture, shape, color) of a rice–corn GFFB in which 10% of flour was supplemented with the sourdoughs. PMB promoted the growth of lactobacilli and the production of organic acids, especially in combination of CSPF and PMF. The optimum flour ratio was 2.4:1:1.2 (PMB:PMF:CSPF). LF + KM shortened the sourdough fermentation time by 2.5 times compared to LV1. The use of LF + KM sourdough reduced the hardness (32%) and chewiness (28%) of the GFFB, while the volume (35%) was increased compared to LV1 sourdough. This study shows the potential of using local alternative flours in sourdough fermentation for the production of GFFB.