Development and comparison of shelf stable extended and dehydrated goat meat cubes containing four different legume based binder mixes.

A study was undertaken to develop shelf stable hot air oven dried goat meat cubes extended with different legume based binder mixes. Based on preliminary trials, four different formulations containing 80 % meat mince + 10 % Bengal gram based binder mix (HBE), 70 % meat mince + 20 % green gram based binder mix (HGR), 80 % meat mince + 10 % black gram based binder mix (HBL) and 80 % meat mince + 10 % lentil based binder mix (HLE) were selected and subjected to physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics. Among treatments, HGR showed a significantly higher pH (6.53 ± 0.01), whereas there was no significant difference in other physico-chemical parameters. Moisture content (10.37 ± 1.06 %) was highest in HLE, while protein (49.68 ± 1.78 %) and ash (8.71 ± 0.30 %) contents were higher in HBL. On texture profile analysis, hardness, gumminess and chewiness parameters were highest for HLE and lowest for HBL. In all treatments, total plate, Staphylococcus aureus and yeast and mold counts were in acceptable range and coliforms were not detected. Scores for sensory attributes of rehydrated cubes were in good to very good range in all treatments, however, higher scores for appearance, flavour, texture, juiciness and overall acceptability were observed in HBL. The dehydrated cubes could be used to prepare curry within few minutes and is a boon to busy housewives.