Use of different protein and antioxidant sources in couscous production to improve chemical and functional properties

In this study, it was aimed to improve couscous chemical and functional properties by replacing wheat flour used in traditional couscous production with pea and mung bean flours as different protein sources at the rate of 20% and with ginger and turmeric powders as antioxidant sources at the rate of 1%, 2%, and 3%. Sixteen different couscous formulations were produced. In those couscous samples, some chemical contents (moisture, ash, protein, fat, and phytic acid), bioactive contents (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and ion reducing antioxidant capacity antioxidant activities and total phenolic content), color (L*, a*, and b*), firmness and cooking properties were determined. The use of pea and mung bean flour decreased the L* value of the samples, while turmeric increased the yellowness values. In addition, the weight increase and firmness values of couscous decreased with the use of leguminous flours and antioxidant sources. The use of peas and mung beans significantly increased the amount of ash, protein, and phytic acid values compared to the control. The antioxidant activity value of ion-reducing antioxidant activity capacity increased by 7 and 5 times, and the total phenolic contents increased approximately 2 times, respectively, in the samples with the substitution of 3% turmeric and pea and mung bean flour. Pea flour and mung bean flour provided a significant increase in the amounts of Ca, Mg, K, and Zn. The combination of pea flour with 3% turmeric powder resulted in couscous with superior nutritional and functional properties.