Nutritional properties and health aspects of pulses and their use in plant-based yogurt alternatives.

Plant-based yogurt alternatives are increasing in market value, while dairy yogurt sales are stagnating or even declining. The plant-based yogurt alternatives market is currently dominated by products based on coconut or soy. Coconut-based products especially are often low in protein and high in saturated fat, while soy products raise consumer concerns regarding genetically modified soybeans, and soy allergies are common. Pulses are ideally suited as a base for plant-based yogurt alternatives due to their high protein content and beneficial amino acid composition. This review provides an overview of pulse nutrients, pro-nutritional and anti-nutritional compounds, how their composition can be altered by fermentation, and the chemistry behind pulse protein coagulation by acid or salt denaturation. An extensive market review on plant-based yogurt alternatives provides an overview of the current worldwide market situation. It shows that pulses are ideal base ingredients for yogurt alternatives due to their high protein content, amino acid composition, and gelling behavior when fermented with lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, fermentation can be used to reduce anti-nutrients such as α-galactosides and vicine or trypsin inhibitors, further increasing the nutritional value of pulse-based yogurt alternatives.

Lentil-Based Yogurt Alternatives Fermented with Multifunctional Strains of Lactic Acid Bacteria-Techno-Functional, Microbiological, and Sensory Characteristics.

A milk-alternative produced from lentil protein isolate was fermented with three multifunctional strains of lactic acid bacteria, Leuconostoc citreum TR116, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides MP070, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei FST 6.1. As a control, a commercial starter culture containing Streptococcus thermophilus was used. The metabolic performance of these strains and the techno-functional properties of the resulting yogurt alternatives (YA) were studied. Microbial growth was evaluated by cell counts, acidification, and carbohydrate metabolization. The structure of the YA was investigated by textural and rheological analyses and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Production of antifungal compounds, the influence of fermentation on the content of FODMAPs, and typical metabolites were analyzed, and a sensory analysis was performed. The results revealed an exponential microbial growth in the lentil base substrate supported by typical acidification, which indicates a suitable environment for the selected strains. The resulting YA showed a gel-like texture typical for non-stirred yogurts, and high water holding capacity. The tested strains produced much higher levels of antifungal phenolic compounds than the commercial control and are therefore promising candidates as adjunct cultures for shelf-life extension. The Leuconostoc strains produced mannitol from fructose and could thus be applied in sugar-reduced YA. Preliminary sensory analysis showed high acceptance for YA produced with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei FST 6.1, and a yogurt-like flavor not statistically different to that produced by the control. Overall, each tested strain possessed promising functionalities with great potential for application in fermented plant-based dairy-alternatives.

Nutritional and Rheological Features of Lentil Protein Isolate for Yoghurt-Like Application.

The substitution of animal protein with proteins of plant origin is a viable way to decrease the negative impact caused by animal husbandry on the environment. Pulse consumption has been widely promoted as a nutritious contribution to protein supplementation. In this study, an emulsion of lentil (Lens culinaris) protein isolate is fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to manufacture a yoghurt alternative and the techno-functional properties compared to a dairy- and a soy-based product with similar protein contents. The yoghurt-like products are subjected to large and small deformation analysis, quantification of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP), water holding capacity tests, protein profile analysis and the gel structure is visualised by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The lentil yoghurt alternative shows good water holding capacity, high firmness and consistency values in large deformation analysis, with cohesiveness and viscosity not significantly different from that of dairy yoghurt. The high gel strength and rigidity of the lentil yoghurt gels measured by small deformation analysis is well-reflected in the dense protein matrix in the CLSM graphs. FODMAP content of the lentil yoghurt is very low, making it suitable for consumption by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Our results show that lentil protein isolate is an excellent base material for producing a plant-based yoghurt alternative.