Effect of incorporation of amaranth flour on the quality of cookies

Studies were carried out on composite flour cookies by incorporating amaranth seed (Amaranthus gangeticus) flour, which is rich in protein at 0-35% levels, showed a small reduction in water absorption capacity from 58.0 to 56.5%, a considerable reduction in Farinograph stability from 3.0 to 1.5 min and increase in the mixing tolerance index from 40 to 120 BU of the dough. The pasting characteristics of the blends using rapid visco analyser (RVA) showed a reduction in peak viscosity, cold paste viscosity as well as break down viscosity from 261 to 192, 204 to 153 and 151 to 108 RVU, respectively. Incorporation of amaranth flour improved the colour of the cookies from pale cream to golden brown. The cookies became crispier which is evident from the reduction in the breaking strength value from 6.2 to 4.02 kg. Considering the colour, taste, flavour, surface appearance of the cookies, 25% incorporation of amaranth flour was found to be optimum. By the addition of glycerol mono stearate (GMS) and soy lecithin in combination at 0.5% level, the quality of the cookies further improved.