Tetraselmis chuiias a Sustainable and Healthy Ingredient to Produce Gluten-Free Bread: Impact on Structure, Colour and Bioactivity

The objective of this work is to increase the nutritional quality of gluten-free (GF) bread by addition ofTetraselmis chuiimicroalgal biomass, a sustainable source of protein and bioactive compounds. The impact of different levels ofT. chuii(0%-Control, 1%, 2% and 4%w/w) on the GF doughs and breads' structure was studied. Microdough-Lab mixing tests and oscillatory rheology were conducted to evaluate the dough ' s structure. Physical properties of the loaves, total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP) of the bread extracts were assessed. For the low additions ofT. chuii(1% and 2%), a destabilising effect is noticed, expressed by lower dough viscoelastic functions (G' and G'') and poor baking results. At the higher level (4%) of microalgal addition, there was a structure recovery with bread volume increase and a decrease in crumb firmness. Moreover, 4%T. chuiibread presented higher total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity when compared to control. Bread with 4%T. chuiiseems particularly interesting since a significant increase in the bioactivity and an innovative green appearance was achieved, with a low impact on technological performance, but with lower sensory scores.