Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Flour Integration in Wheat-Based Sourdough: Effect on Nutritional and Technological Quality of Bread

The aim of this study was to develop an innovative sourdough using dehydrated okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) pod flour and to use it in the production of bread. Three different flours (sun-dried S, freeze-dried F, oven-dried O) were individually mixed at 9% with wheat flour (Dough Yield 300) and fermented (N0: 8.0 log10 CFU/g) for 14 h, using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ITM21B, Weissella cibaria C43-11 or Leuconostoc mesenteroides C43-2M. The results showed that after fermentation, the content of organic acids (lactic, acetic and propionic), exopolysaccharides (EPS), l-glutamic acid and total free amino acids (TFAA) increased and the high molecular weight proteins were converted into smaller proteins. Sourdough based on Leuc. mesenteroides and O flour (O_LeuMes) was selected to evaluate its applicability in bread making. It was included in the yeast-leavened bread formulation at 20 or 40% (0.6% and 1.21% w/w O flour replacement). The results showed that fermentation limited the negative effects of unfermented O flour on bread quality attributes, mainly the specific volume and firmness. Bread with O_LeuMes at 40% was improved in TFAA, EPS and l-glutamic acid content and showed a higher specific volume and lower moisture and firmness compared to bread with the unfermented O flour.