Composite wheat-plantain starch salted noodles. Preparation, proximal composition and in vitro starch digestibility

Salted noodles were prepared with different contents of wheat grits and plantain starch (PS). The blends were hydrated with 2% NaCl (w/v), homogenized, and the resulting doughs were sheeted through a pasta machine, cut into strips ∼30cm in length, cooked, and their composition and in vitro starch digestibility was assessed. Moisture (6.43-7.60%) and ash contents (2.08-3.12%) increased by the addition of PS. Fat level decreased from 0.41 to 0.31% as the substitution of wheat grits increased. Results showed a 7.39% lower total starch content in the control sample as compared to the noodle containing 30% PS. A similar pattern was observed for potentially available starch content, but the difference was greater (12.46%). Approximately 50% of total resistant starch (RS) in the noodles was resistant starch associated to fiber, showing that a part of RS is due to the physically inaccessible and retrograded starch fractions. Pure wheat (control) noodles presented a greater final α-amylolysis value, which is suggestive of potentially lower glycemic impact for the plantain/wheat products.