Abbreviations: RSM, response surface methodology; ANOVA, analysis of variance; SMP, skimmed milk powder; CCD, central composite design; R 2 , regression coefficient; CV, coefficient of variation
IntroductionAn estimated 50 to 55% of milk produced in India is converted into various traditional milk products including numerous dairy desserts. A variety of sweet desserts to suit different festive occasions are manufactured, mainly in unorganized sector across the country. One of the most common traditional dairy desserts is kheer. It is one such product which is offered on religious occasions, social functions and festivals. Kheer has evolved itself to suit regional and personal preferences.1 It is a semi solid cereal-based dairy dessert prepared by cooking rice with sugar or jaggery in milk till the point when rice starch gets gelatinized. The major ingredients of kheer are milk, sugar, rice, dry fruits and flavourings.2 The essential ingredients are milk and sugar, but recipe of kheer can be varied by replacing rice with vermicelli, semolina, and even carrot. Whole grain cereals or even beaten cereal products are used for kheer making. Consistency of kheer like desserts may vary from almost liquid to viscous semisolid type product. Rice, 3 makhana 4 and cracked wheat, i.e, dalia 5 have been commonly used to make kheer. Apart from rice and dalia, other ingredients, i.e, cowpea or soybean may also be used for kheer making, as these foods contain some specific health promoting factors.Cowpea and whole wheat have some significant health benefits. In unison they can provide a cereal pulse combination enhancing the protein quality. Traditional kheer is not a rich sources of fiber. Blending of whole wheat flour and cowpea in the recipe could increase the fiber content and enhance nutritional benefits, therefore, rice was substituted by this cereal legume combination. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is grown and consumed all over the world, especially in developing countries like India and China. 6 It is a famous traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has functions of nourishing spleen, kidney, curing vomiting and dysentery.7 Wheat (Triticum L aestivum) is deemed elite grain and is rightly called the 'king of wild grass'. Wheat is regarded as most important cereal not because of its antiquity but due to being an excellent food for mankind. Consumption of wheat reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, obesity and cancer. 8 In this study malted wheat flour was used because it is relatively rich source of maltose, mineral, soluble protein, alphaamylase enzyme and flavor substances compared to plain wheat flour. It is inexpensive and can be made easily at home. Several dry mixes based on rice, wheat, oat-based products, have been used in readyto-reconstitute forms, with enhanced shelf life.1-3,9-11 Many of these products have become popular due to ease of consumption, increased shelf life and close resemblance to the traditionally consumed dessert prepared at domestic level.Applications of scienc...