Abari is a traditional meal rich in carbohydrate and consumed in many parts of Nigeria. This study determined the physicochemical and sensory properties of steamed or baked abari enriched with defatted soybean. Abari samples were enriched with soybean at 20% and 40%, steamed or baked and the physical, proximate, and sensory attributes of the samples were evaluated. Addition of defatted soybean flour increased the protein, ash and fiber contents, of abari. Processing methods and soybean flour addition generally did not affect the appearance and color of the samples, but they did affect the textural properties of the samples. Steamed samples were rated higher in all sensory parameters and were softer than baked samples. Although baking provided another variety in the consumption of abari, steamed abari were preffered to baked samples due to the farmiliarity with steamed samples. The consumption of baked abari may be increased through consumers enlightenment on its superior nutritional value. Practical applications This study has demonstrated the possibility of improving the nutritional value and textural properties of a traditional food (abari) by enriching it with a protein‐rich legume. The defatting step could be done in rural communities through mechanical or manual pressing of the ground seeds and the oil may be used with little processing for cooking. The major advancement in this study is to concentrate the protein of the food through defatting and to improve the textural properties, which otherwise would be soggy without defatting.

The effect of cold storage on fermented soy drink from tamarind and nono was assessed. Soymilk was produced by milk extraction from whole soybean seeds and pasteurized at 76oC for 30 minutes. The soymilk was divided into two portions. One portion inoculated with tamarind pulp containing 5.3×103 cfu/mL and the other with nono containing 11.6×103 cfu/mL. They were incubated at 42oC for 12 hours, fermentation was harvested by stirring, packaged, refrigerated at 5oC and subjected to microbial analysis using standard method. Preservation of drink by refrigeration method increased the microbial load of sample A from day 0 (8.7×103 cfu/mL) to day 9 (15.0×103 cfu/mL) but decreased on day 12 (11×103 cfu/mL). Similar results were recorded for samples B and C. However, sample A had neither coliform nor fungal growth. Sample A and B had no significant (p>0.05) difference in energy value (41.91±0.89 and 42.50±1.14) but sample C had the highest energy (96.69±2.03- 77.80±1.17), ash (4.10±0.13- 96.69±2.03), crude protein (0.51±0.01- 0.55±0.03), oil extract (3.44±0.17- 3.65±0.15) and NFE (7.61±0.14- 11.16±0.17) but lowest in moisture (79.84±1.07- 80.27±1.30) contents on day 6– 12. However, sample B had high moisture content ranged (84.43±1.17- 87.15±2.3) but lower in other parameters. Statistical analysis for the vitamin C, potassium and calcium of sample’s A, B and C were carried to determine their significant differences. Refrigeration slows down the bacterial activity hence reducing spoilage thus making fermented soy drink a good source of desired protein in Nigeria.