DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CAROB(Ceratonia siliqua L.) BASED ICE CREAM: DIETETICAND VALUE-ADDED FORMULA

Despite their several nutritional and functional properties, local products, such as carob, have been underexploited in Tunisia. In the context of valorization of these resources, the current study investigates the use of carob as a functional ingredient on physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of new dietary carob-based ice cream. Following preliminary tests, eight different samples were initially produced which differ by the amount of added carob. The mixture plan of the optimized formula was then determined according to 5 responses: flavour, odour, overall acceptability, antioxidant activity and viscosity of the ice cream. The addition of carob gave the ice cream nutritional and energy boosting values without being too caloric (153.12 kcal/ 100g) and with no added sugar. The optimized formula with 3.6 % of fat content makes it fall to the dietetic products category. Moreover, the addition of carob gave the ice cream antioxidant properties which is manifested by an antiradical activity of the order of 91.01% and a total antioxidant activity equal to 44.72mg EAA/ g DM. Viscosity and microbiological properties were not affected by the use of carob which meets the prescribed standards of ice creams. This successful preparation of high-quality nutritional and functional carob-based ice cream had a positive response on sensory level, and it had natural dark tint and fragrance without any added chemicals. Therefore, the incorporation of carob significantly improved the functional, nutritional, physicochemical, rheological, and organoleptic quality of the obtained product, stabilizing its microbial quality and viscosity.