The effect of revalorized Bimi leaves (B) and/or mustard (M) addition, as supplementary ingredients, to develop an innovative kale (K) pesto sauce was studied. Microbial, physicochemical (color, total soluble solids content -SSC-, pH and titratable acidity -TA-) and sensory quality were studied during 20 days at 5 °C. Bioactive compounds changes (total phenolics, total antioxidant capacity and glucoraphanin contents) were also monitored throughout storage. The high TA and pH changes in the last 6 days of storage were avoided in the K+B pesto when adding mustard, due to the antimicrobial properties of this brassica seed. SSC was increased when B + M were added to the K pesto, which positively masked the kale-typical bitterness. Mustard addition hardly change yellowness of the K pesto, being not detected in the sensory analyses, showing K+B+M pesto the lowest color differences after 20 days of shelf life. The addition of Bimi leaves to the K pesto enhanced its phenolic content while mustard addition did not negatively affect such total antioxidant compounds content. Finally, mustard addition effectively aimed to glucoraphanin conversion to its bioactive products. Conclusively, an innovative kale pesto supplemented with Bimi by-products was hereby developed, being its overall quality well preserved up to 20 days at 5 °C due to the mustard addition.
Keywords: Ready-to-eat; antioxidants; bioactive compounds; glucosinolates; health-promoting compounds; phenolic compounds.