December 29/Vienna, Austria/Health & Medicine Week -- New investigation results, "Functional Properties of Gluten-free Pasta Produced from Amaranth, Quinoa and Buckwheat," are detailed in a study published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. According to a study from Vienna, Austria, "The use of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat for the production of gluten-free pasta was investigated in the present study. The aim of the work was to produce pasta of good textural quality, in particular, low cooking loss, optimal cooking weight and texture firmness."

"The results demonstrated that pasta produced from amaranth had decreased texture firmness and cooking time, while pasta from quinoa mainly showed increased cooking loss. In buckwheat pasta the least negative effects were observed. By combination of all three raw materials to one flour blend in the ratio of 60% buckwheat, 20% amaranth and 20% quinoa, dough matrix was improved," wrote R. Schoenlechner and colleagues, Institute of Food Technology.

The researchers concluded, "After decreasing dough moisture to 30%, addition of an increased amount of egg white powder of 6% and addition of 1.2% emulsifier (distilled monoglycerides) texture firmness as well as cooking quality of gluten-free pasta produced from such a flour blend reached acceptable values comparable to wheat pasta."

Schoenlechner and colleagues published their study in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition ("Functional Properties of Gluten-free Pasta Produced from Amaranth, Quinoa and Buckwheat," Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2010;65(4):339-49).

For more information, contact R. Schoenlechner, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Dept. of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Technology, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria.

From the January 10, 2011, Prepared Foods E-dition