Incorporating high volume fractions of broccoli powder in starch noodle dough has a major effect on its
shear modulus, as a result of significant swelling of the broccoli particles. Several hydrocolloids with
distinct water binding capacity (locust bean gum (LBG), guar gum, konjac glucomannan (KG), hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose (HPMC) and xanthan gum), were added to systems with 4 and 20% (v/v dry
based) broccoli particles, and the effect of this addition on dough rheology, mechanical properties and
structure of cooked noodles was investigated. Hydrocolloids with low (LBG and guar gum) and intermediate
(KG) water binding capacity had no significant effect on shear rheology of the dough. Adding
hydrocolloids with high water binding capacity (HPMC and xanthan gum) decreased the shear modulus
of dough with 20% broccoli particles significantly. CLSM analysis of cooked noodles showed that in
samples containing xanthan gum there was also an inhibition of swelling of starch granules. Strength and
stiffness of cooked noodles with 20% broccoli particles were higher for samples containing xanthan gum,
than samples without xanthan gum. The cooking loss and swelling index of samples with added
hydrocolloids were slightly lower than samples without hydrocolloids. Our results showed that hydrocolloids
with high water binding capacity can be used to control the degree of swelling of vegetable
particles and starch granules in starch noodle products, and thereby control both dough rheology and
textural properties of the cooked noodles.