Formulation and Quality Evaluation of Sesame Seed Based Non-Dairy Milk Alternative

Non-dairy milk alternatives are defined as dissolved and disintegrated plant extracts of cereals, millets, pseudo cereals, legumes, nuts and oil seeds that resemble bovines’ milk in appearance and consistency. In recent years, consumers opting for non-dairy milk alternative are gradually increasing due to medical and ethical reasons. Sesame seeds are the most underutilized and low maintenance crop with abundant health benefits and functional properties. In spite of its superior nutritional quality and high calcium content (1174 mg), the diversification and commercialization of novel sesame seed-based food products is still insufficient and certainly needs research focus. The present study was aimed to formulate sesame seed based non-dairy milk alternatives and quality evaluation of the same. Decorticated sesame seeds were purchased from local market, Chennai and subjected to simple household processing techniques such as soaking, grinding and filtration. Soaked sesame seeds were subjected to grinding process in domestic blender and filtered using triple layer muslin cloth to remove the slurry. The obtained sesame seed extracts were pasteurized and stored in pre sterilized glass bottles at 40°C and subjected to physiochemical, proximate, sensory and cost analysis. The results of quality analysis of sesame seed extract revealed that the extract possessed appreciable nutritional composition with desirable sensory attributes and also found to be low cost. The study implied that formulation of novel and acceptable non-dairy product from indigenous low-cost ingredients such as sesame seeds was feasible and suits well to population seeking non - dairy milk alternatives.