Combined Effect of Chia Flour and Soy Lecithin Incorporation on Nutritional and Technological Quality of Fresh Bread and during Staling

The objectives of the present investigation are to study the interaction and optimize the blend composition of flour of grinded Chia seeds, combined to Soy lecithin, a bread making improver, in a way to enhance the nutritional/functional value of bread without impairing its technological quality and to delay its staling rate. Nine formulations were prepared following a Central Composite Design. Technological attributes were evaluated both for fresh and stored bread. In the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) a desirability function identified the optimum doses of chia and lecithin incorporation to obtain the highest specific volume and the lowest crumb firmness. Compared to the control, samples with chia and lecithin significantly increased the nutritional value of bread. An innovative and interesting synergy was found in lecithin/chia combination to enhance the specific volume, to reduce the initial crumb firmness and to delay bread staling by retarding crumb firmness and reducing its water loss during storage. Using the RSM, the optimum blend containing (4.04%-Chia/1%-Lecithin) showed fresh bread with maximum specific volume and minimum crumb firmness. Whereas, bread combining the optimum blend (3.43%-Chia/1%-Lecithin) and stored for two days at room temperature showed the minimum crumb firmness.