A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Sensory and volatile compound profiles in tempeh-like products from faba bean and oats
Authors: Fernandez Castaneda, Laura Alejandra; Saini, Shania; Laaksonen, Oskar; Kårlund, Anna; Leong, Su-lin L.; Newson, William R.; Passoth, Volkmar; Hanhineva, Kati; Langton, Maud; Zamaratskaia, Galia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Current Research in Food Science
Article number: 101029
Volume: 10
eISSN: 2665-9271
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101029
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101029
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491215033
Faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and whole-grain oats (Avena sativa L.) offer a high protein content, are a source of dietary fibre and they can be sustainably produced in the Nordic countries, yet face sensory limitations that restrict their wider use in food. This study aimed to overcome these sensory limitations by soaking the faba bean and whole-grain oats with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, followed by solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus microsporus to produce tempeh-like products. Volatile organic compounds in uncooked and cooked tempeh were analysed using Headspace Solid-Phase Micro-Extraction (HS-SPME) with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Sensory profiling was combined with texture and moisture measurements from uncooked and cooked tempeh-like products to explore sensory and physicochemical attributes. A hedonic test evaluated overall acceptability of the selected samples. A total of 65 volatile organic compounds were identified and semi-quantified, including 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethanol, 2-butanone, acetic acid, and acetoin. L. plantarum soaking reduced certain volatile organic compounds typically associated with beany off-flavours, while cooking increased certain compounds such as acids and pyrazines, potentially masking off-flavours. The soaking resulted in increased sourness, umami taste, and chewiness, with notable texture variation when whole-grain oats were included compared to only faba bean tempeh. Texture measurements were significantly influenced by L. plantarum soaking, as shown by the panellist. Hedonic testing (n = 107) indicated a higher degree of liking for tempeh made from the faba beans and whole-grain oats mix compared to only faba bean tempeh. These findings emphasise the need to assess how pre-treatments, such as soaking, impact on tempeh-like production.
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Funding information in the publication:
The authors acknowledge financial support from the project HealthFerm, which is co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe grant agreement No. 101060247 and from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under contract No. 22.00210. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union nor European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor REA can be held responsible for them. Moreover, this study was financially supported by Trees and Crops for the Future (TC4F), a Strategic Research Area at SLU, supported by the Swedish Government. KH acknowledges funding from Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.