Quality characteristics, amino acid composition, and bioactive potential of wheat cookies protein-enriched with unconventional legume protein isolates

The present investigation was intended to utilize protein isolates from forage legumes as unconventional protein ingredients for the development of protein-enriched wheat-based cookies. Alfalfa and dhaincha protein isolates (API and DPI) were supplemented at levels of 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%, and the effect of supplementation was eva-lauted on the quality attributes, nutritional composition, amino acid profile, and bioactive potential of cookies. The baking loss, water activity, and spreading (except for 10% API and 5% DPI) decreased, whereas the hardness increased with the increase in supplementation level and the effect was more pronounced with the supplementa-tion of DPI. The non-enzymatic browning index showed that it was not affected by the supplementation. DPI-supplemented cookies showed a color change, whereas no change in the color was observed in API-supplemented cookies. Cookies maintained good sensorial characteristics up to the supplementation of 10% API and 5% DPI and higher supplementation of DPI comprised all the sensorial attributes. Supplementation with protein isolates also enhanced the protein and essential amino acid content, total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the cookies.