The effect of two widely used techniques in catering services, cooking
and warm-holding, on the
general composition and amino acid content of three legumes was
analyzed. Cooking produced a
decrease in carbohydrate content and an increase in the protein content
of kidney beans and
chickpeas as well as in the mineral content of lentils. No changes
in the total amount of dietary
fiber were observed except for lentils. Warm-holding did not
significantly change the composition
of cooked legumes. Cooking led to a significant decrease in all
amino acids in kidney beans, especially
in methionine, tyrosine, and threonine. Lysine was the only
essential amino acid that was affected
by the cooking of chickpeas. For lentils a decrease in the content
of isoleucine, leucine, and valine
and a significant increase in lysine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine were
observed. Lentils were the
legume most affected by warm-holding.
Keywords: Cooking; kidney beans; chickpeas; lentils; technological
process