The effect of curdlan and the resting process on the quality of the dried whole tofu noodles

The aim of this study is to make dried noodles having high contents of whole tofu (60% (w/w)). To control the high moisture of the whole tofu, curdlan was added and a high-temperature resting process was applied. The elasticity of the dough sample rested at 45°C for 45 min increased over 50% more than the non-rested one. The addition of curdlan and the high-temperature resting process helped to form a compact internal structure in the dough, which might have been induced by the gelation of curdlan and the swelling of starch. In addition, these treatments resulted in about 20% and 15% reduction in cooking time and cooking loss, respectively. Whole tofu noodles having high protein content with improved texture and cookability was developed. These results could be helpful to the development of the bread based on a high hydration dough.