Abstract:
The development of plant-based dairy products has been fueled by the rising desire
for healthier and more sustainable dietary options. The production and quality
evaluation of vegan curd using rice and groundnut milk fermented with Lactic Acid
Bacteria isolated from green chilli pedicels are the main objectives of this work. In
order to determine the vegan curd's nutritional value, safety, and customer
acceptability, the study compares various formulations (To-Tl) and analyzes its
physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics. The vegan curd's pH
levels ranged from 3.9t0.04 to 4.05t0.01, indicating ideal fermentation conditions,
while its protein concentration reached up to 1.25*:0.010/0 and fat content reached
6.03*0.05%, according to chemical tests. The product's stability and safety were
guaranteed by microbiological analysis, which verified the low Yeast and Mold
levels and lack of coliforms. Overall acceptability scores were similar to those of
commercial plant-based yogurts, md sensory analysis emphasized the curd's
delectable texture, flavor, and aroma. Utilizing LAB from grcen chilli pedicels
improved the fermentation process and added to the curd's distinct flavor and
health advantages. The results showed that vegan curd is a good substitute for
conventional dairy curd and gives consurners a nutrient-dense, sustainable choice.
The study emphasized how creative, environmentally beneficial food products may
be made from agricultural waste, such as chilli pedicles. To further improve the
product's quality and market potential, future studies should concentrate on increasing
production volume, refining fermentation conditions, and investigating the functional
characteristics of LAB. This study provided a reproducible model for creating plantbased
dair1, su6rti,rtes and added to the expanding corpus of information on sustainable
food production.
