Yogurt as an Alternative Ingredient to Improve the Functional and Nutritional Properties of Gluten-Free Breads

Absence of gluten in bakery goods is a technological challenge, generating gluten-free breads with low functional and nutritional properties. However, these issues can be minimized using new protein sources, by the addition of nutritional added-value products. Fresh yogurt represents an interesting approach since it is a source of protein, polysaccharides, and minerals, with potential to mimic the gluten network, while improving the nutritional value of gluten-free products. In the present work, different levels of yogurt addition (5% up to 20% weight/weight) were incorporated into gluten-free bread formulations, and the impact on dough rheology properties and bread quality parameters were assessed. Linear correlations (R2 > 0.9041) between steady shear (viscosity) and oscillatory (elastic modulus, at 1 Hz) values of the dough rheology with bread quality parameters (volume and firmness) were obtained. Results confirmed that the yogurt addition led to a significant improvement on bread quality properties, increasing the volume and crumb softness and lowering the staling rate, with a good nutritional contribution in terms of proteins and minerals, to improve the daily diet of celiac people.