This study investigated the effect of replacing wheat flour by whole. Amaranthus cruentus flour (up to 40 g/100 g) to evaluate its potential utility as a nutritious breadmaking ingredient. The incorporation of amaranth flour significantly increased protein, lipid, ash, dietary fibre and mineral contents. Breads with amaranth have significantly higher amounts of phytates and lower. myo-inositol phosphates, which could predict low mineral bioavailability at high levels of substitution (30-40 g/100 g). An increase in crumb hardness and elasticity was observed, and tristimulus colour values were significantly affected when the amaranth concentration was raised. Mineral contents, both micro- and macroelements, were increased significantly by the wheat flour substitution. Whole amaranth flour could be used as a partial replacement for wheat flour in bread formulations, increasing the product's nutritional value and raising dietary fibre, mineral and protein levels, with a significant slight depreciation in bread quality when used in proportions between 10 and 20 g/100 g. Thus, the inclusion of amaranth flour could be limited to a maximum proportion of 20 g/100 g, thereby maintaining both product quality as well as the nutritional benefit of this ingredient.This work was financially supported by projects AGL2006-09613/ALI, 200870I229, AGL2011-22669 and 2006PL0015 from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN), and PROMETEO/2012/064 from Generalitat Valenciana, Spain. The fellowship of J.M. Sanz Penella from MICINN is gratefully acknowledged.Peer Reviewe

The buckwheat flour was studied as a potential healthy ingredient for improving the nutritional and technological quality of gluten-free bread. The effect of exchange of gluten-free formulation mass by buckwheat flour in 10, 20, 30 and 40 % was investigated. The increase in loaf specific volume with rising buckwheat flour addition was observed. Compared with the control sample, decrease in whiteness and increase in redness and yellowness of crumb were noticed. The rising amount of buckwheat flour in gluten-free bread formulation caused a decrease in crumb hardness during storage. This was in agreement with the decrease in starch gelatinisation enthalpy with the increasing amount of buckwheat flour in gluten-free formula in comparison with the control sample. Buckwheat flour could be incorporated into gluten-free formula and have a positive influence on bread texture and delaying its staling.

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The fortification of gluten-free bread containing inulin with different organic and non-organic calcium sources was investigated. Calcium lactate, calcium citrate, calcium chloride and calcium carbonate were used as calcium sources. Gluten-free bread composed of corn starch, potato starch, salt, yeast, pectin, sugar and sunflower oil was used as a reference. The calcium salts were supplemented to the gluten-free formula to provide equal content of elementary calcium (Ca⁺²). The Mixolab^® device was used to analyse the behaviour of gluten-free dough subjected to a dual mechanical shear stress and temperature constraint. Calcium salts significantly modified the dough behaviour during heating and cooling. The addition of calcium carbonate and calcium citrate provoked an increase in dough consistency during heating and cooling compared with the other salt-enriched samples. The specific volume and texture parameters of gluten-free breads varied with the calcium salt used, but calcium carbonate and calcium citrate showed improved values. The higher calcium content of the enriched breads, compared with the control, confirmed the fortification. Sensory evaluation of the calcium-fortified breads confirmed that calcium carbonate followed by calcium citrate was the most recommended salt for obtaining calcium fortification of gluten-free breads.