Summary Bambara groundnut is an underutilised African leguminous crop. This study investigated the effect of annealing on the complexing ability and functionality of Bambara groundnut starch with palmitic acid. Corn starch was included as the reference. Annealing created cracks and pores on the surface of Bambara groundnut and corn starches, respectively. Bambara groundnut starch had significantly higher amylose content, higher peak and final viscosities than corn starch. The peak viscosities of native Bambara groundnut and corn starches significantly reduced with palmitic acid addition. Greater reduction in peak viscosities was observed when the annealed starches were complexed with palmitic acid, suggesting that more palmitic acid was complexed after annealing. This was confirmed by XRD peaks and melting enthalpies. Pasting of native Bambara groundnut and corn starches with palmitic acid resulted in the formation of type I V‐amylose complexes, while type II complexes were formed from annealed starches pasted with palmitic acid.

Spoilage of cassava root begins immediately after harvest, but its shelf-life could be enhanced by adopting freezing as a storage method. This study investigated the physicochemical properties and morphology of starch isolated from cassava roots frozen for 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Extracted starches can be categorized as compound starches with most granules irregularly shaped, with some oval, round and truncated. The amylose contents (22.05-26.41%) decreased with an increase in the freezing time, but the starches showed similar crystallinity pattern (Type A). Fourier infrared transform spectroscopy showed a reduction in double-helical order structure of starches from frozen cassava roots. Starches from the stored roots were generally less firm, less sticky, more cohesive and had higher peak and trough viscosities compared to starch from freshly harvested roots. Starch from frozen cassava starch may be suited for use in certain types of noodles, such as Japanese noodles due to low amylose content. Future studies are however, required to explore the starches in food applications.

In this study, the possibility of producing a cheese-like product from the partial substitution of soy milk with almond milk was investigated. The extracted almond milk was mixed with soy milk in a variable proportion of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, and the control is soya milk alone (0:100) to produce a cheese-like product. Control and partially substituted cheese-like samples were stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 4oC and examined for proximate, total titrable acidity, pH, total solid and sensory properties. The total titrable acidity of the cheese was between 0.23% and 0.33%, representing a significant increase in total titrable acidity from 0.23% to 0.33%. The pH increased with increase in the almond milk in the cheese, which varied between 6.45 and 6.90. The proximate composition ranged from 25.67%-29.97% for protein, 22.79%-26.45% for moisture, 30.58%-36.99% for fat, 7.02%-14.61% for carbohydrate, 1.20%-1.79% for ash, and 0.90%-2.03% for fibre. Protein and fat contents increased with increase in almond milk substitution, while carbohydrate and ash content decrease with increasing almond milk substitution. Sensory evaluation revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) in colour, taste, texture and overall acceptability, influenced by the varying proportions of added almond milk. However, there is no significant difference in aroma. The blend with 30% almond milk and 70% soy milk was most acceptable to panelists. The study showed the potential of almond milk as an alternative source of milk in cheese making with improved nutritional value and increased acceptability for the consumer. Keywords: Cheese-like product, Soy-almond Cheese-like, Soy milk, Almond milk

Custard is a convenient food product, similar to ogi in appearance and viscosity, but lacks the sour taste typical of ogi. In this study, extracts (10% w/w) from tamarind, soursop and lime was added to custard samples and the physicochemical and sensory properties of the mixture was analysed. Corn gruel was included as the reference sample. Carbohydrate was the major component of the corn gruel (61.72%) and custard samples (66.27-74.42%). Corn gruel had substantially higher protein content (18.03%) than custard samples (8.03-8.62%). Custard samples were more dispersible in water, showed higher swelling power and significantly higher peak and final viscosities than the corn flour sample. However, the addition of souring agent did not significantly alter the cooking time and pasting temperature of custard. Custard may be soured with lime, tamarind and soursop to improve dispersibility, consistency, appearance, viscosity and sourness without significant changes in the overall acceptability of the product.

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