India has a very rich variety of fermented foods prepared from milk, cereals, pulses vegetables, fruits and fish. Milk and milk products like curd, buttermilk, lassi and shrikhand is inseparable dish in a regular diet of Indians. Shrikhand is a very popular and delicious product liked by many Indian and is consumed it regularly during various occasions due to its pleasant taste and aroma (Jain et al., 1998). Because of this, shrikhand has a good market value and manufactured with different brands. The word shrikhand derives its name from the Sanskrit word “Shrikharini” meaning curd preparation with added sugar, flavoring agent, fruits and nuts (Mane et al., 2017). Shrikhand is delicious and delightful dessert of western India. It has the nutritive goodness of fermented milk products (Kulkarni et al., 2006). The dish is very popular in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The keeping quality of shrikhand largely depends upon its initial micro flora like yeast, mould and other microorganism. Under ambient condition (30°C) it tends to spoil within 2-3 days (Sarkar and Mishra, 1997). Under refrigerated condition (5°C) it can be kept for 40 days without deterioration. So, in order to increase the milk availability during lean periods (summer months) the shrikhand preparation is best under Indian condition. With the adoption of advanced technology, the product is being commercially prepared and marketed by the organized sector of dairy industry but with the limited success (Patel, 1997). Alternative approach to enhance the shelf life of shrikhand is to reduce down the moisture and to convert it into solid confection which can last for longer period of time. Generally buffalo milk is used for manufacture of chakka which gives higher overrun and receives consumer’s preference. However, cow milk production is increasing at faster rate during last 5-6 years due to increase in crossbred cows. Surplus cow milk is available in cities as well as household level in village for conversion of milk into milk products. But there are problems of getting satisfactory yields of shrikhand prepared from cow milk due to low fat and total solids of milk.

Shrikhandwadi is a solid confection obtained by blending or chakka with sugar and desiccating the content to a semi hard mass which can cut into sizeable pieces (Bramhapurkar et al., 2007). Addition of increased sugar content in the blend not only serves as a sweetening agent but also increase the shelf life by retarding the development of oxidized flavor under favorable atmospheric conditions (Aneja and Vyas, 1987). Earlier few attempts were made to optimize the process of making shrikhandwadi, but with the limited success. Since the literature on process standardization innovation of shrikhandwadi is scanty, the present investigation was undertaken.

Materials and Methods

The chakka obtained from buffalo milk curd was divided in different lots according to treatments. Three methods of processing were followed- 1) blended chakka, sugar and skim milk powder was heated at 90˚C in an open pan with continuous stirring 2) chakka was heated with continuous stirring and ground sugar was added at the end of process 3) chakka was blended with hot sugar syrup and partially thickened. In each method of process four level of sweetener (sugar) taken as 1) sugar blend S₁-125%, S₂-150%, S₃-175%, S₄-200% 2) dry sugar S₁-75%, S₂-100%, S₃-125%, S₄-150% 3) sugar syrup S₁-75%, S₂-100%, S₃-125%, S₄-150%.

Chakka

Addition of sugar

Addition of SMP

Blending

(Addition of sugar, 150%                        Heating (90˚C for 12-15 min)

ground sugar at the end of

heating process)                                       Spreading thickened mass

Cooling

Making rectangular pieces

Packaging

Storage

Fig. 1: Flowchart of making Shrikhandwadi

The texture profile was measured by subjecting samples of shrikhandwadi to 50 % compression on Instron Universal Testing Machine (Model -1000) as per the method described by Bourne (1966). Proximate analysis was carried as per the procedures followed by standard AOAC methods. Moisture, ash and protein (AOAC, 2005), fat (AOAC, 1997) and total solids calculated by evaporating moisture and residue was weighed. Total carbohydrates content from shrikhandwadi sample was calculated by difference. Sensory analysis was done by following 9 point hedonic scale developed by quarter, master, food and container Institute, USA (Gupta, 1976) for the following sensory attributes- 1) color and appearance 2) body and texture 3) flavor and 4) overall acceptability.

Statistical Analysis

The data obtained during the course of investigation were subjected to statistical analysis using Randomized Block Design with five replications as per the method suggested by Snedecor and Cochran (1967).

Results and Discussion

Sensory Quality

The data on the sensory quality of shrikhandwadi made by blending buffalo milk chakka with different sugar levels are presented in Table 1 to 6. Study recorded significantly (P≤0.05) higher color and appearance score in 125% sugar (Table 1) than other treatments. However, for body and texture and flavor of 150% sugar (S₂) recorded significantly (P≤0.05) higher score. Significantly (P≤0.05) lowest score for all the attributes were recorded in the product added with 200% sugar (S₄). The skim milk powder added buffalo milk shrikhandwadi (Table 2) recorded significantly (P≤0.05) higher score for color and appearance, body and texture and overall palatability in 125% (S₁) and 150% (S₂) treatment than other. The lowest scores for all the sensory attributes were recorded in the product with 200% sugar (S₄). With increased in concentration of sugar from 175 to 200% the sensory score was decreased significantly (P≤0.05).

Table 1: Effect of blending different sugar levels on sensory quality of buffalo milk

(125% Sugar blend (S1), 150% Sugar blend (S2), 175% Sugar blend (S3), 200% Sugar blend (S4)

Table 2: Effect of blending different sugar levels along with 10% skim milk on sensory quality of buffalo milk shrikhandwadi

(125% Sugar blend (S1), 150% Sugar blend (S2), 175% Sugar blend (S3), 200% Sugar blend (S4)

The effect of added dry sugar with different concentrations on sensory qualities was presented in Table 3 and 4.  Study recorded improvement in sensory scores for appearance and body and texture were observed by increasing the dry sugar content to 100% (S₂), however, the differences were at par with S₁ (75%). Addition of still higher quantity of sugar (125%) resulted in considerable reduction in sensory scores for all sensory parameters and among all attributes, addition of 175% sugar (S₅) recorded lowest scores for all sensory qualities.

Table 3: Effect of addition of dry sugar on sensory characteristics of buffalo milk shrikhandwadi

(75% Sugar blend (S1), 100% Sugar blend (S2), 125% Sugar blend (S3), 150% Sugar blend (S4), 175% sugar blend (S5)

Table 4 reveals highly significant (P≤0.05) differences in all the sensory attributes of shrikhandwadi made from buffalo milk fortified with dry sugar and skim milk powder. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher scores were recorded in the product added with 100% sugar (S₂) followed by S₁ (75%) and S₃ (125%). These treatments were however, superior in all respect, except flavor over S₄. Addition of 175% sugar (S₅) resulted in lowest sensory scores for all the attributes.

Table 4: Effect of addition of dry sugar and 10% SMP on sensory characteristics of buffalo milk shrikhandwadi

(75% Sugar blend (S1), 100% Sugar blend (S2) and 125% Sugar blend (S3), 150% Sugar blend (S4), 175% sugar blend (S5).

Shrikhandwadi prepared by blending sugar syrup (Table 5) containing 100% sugar (S₂) exhibited significantly (P≤0.05) higher sensory scores which were at par with S₁. Blending of increased amount of sugar 125% resulted in significant (P≤0.05) reduction in scores particularly in respect of flavor and overall acceptability. The lowest scores for all the sensory attributes recorded in the blend containing 150% sugar (S₄).

Table 5:  Effect of blending of hot sugar syrup on sensory quality of buffalo milk shrikhandwadi

(75% Sugar blend (S1), 100% Sugar blend (S2), 125% Sugar blend (S3), 150% Sugar blend (S4)

Shrikhandwadi made by using selected sugar levels added (Table 6) directly in the form of dry sugar or blending with chakka either as ground sugar or hot sugar syrup with or without SMP showed non-significant (P˃0.05) differences in all sensory attributes scores. The maximum scores for color and appearance, flavor and overall acceptability were observed in the product made from the blend containing 150% ground sugar followed by addition of 100% dry sugar at the end of process. The sensory scores for other blends were however, observed to be more or less similar.

Table 6: Effect of selected sugar blends on sensory characteristics of buffalo milk shrikhandwadi

Texture

It was observed from study (Fig. 2) that shrikhandwadi made by blending buffalo milk chakka with 150% ground sugar exhibited maximum values for hardness 160.10 mN, springiness 2.10 mm, gumminess 5.00mN and chewiness 10.50 mNmm followed by addition of 100 % dry sugar at the end of the process and 100% sugar syrup. The lowest values for all the textural attributes were recorded in skim milk powder fortified shrikhandwadi with 100 % dry sugar. The product made by blending of chakka with 100 % of dry sugar resulted in lower hardness 150.65 mN, but the values for cohesiveness 0.0322, springiness 1.90 mm, gumminess 4.85 mN and chewiness 9.20 mNmm were almost similar and comparable to that of the product made by blending with 150% ground sugar.

Proximate Composition

Results of proximate composition for shrikhandwadi made from buffalo milk chakka using selected sugar blends showed slight variations in moisture and total carbohydrates content while the differences in fat, protein and ash content were marginal, skim milk powder fortified product with 125% sugar exhibited lowest moisture content while the total carbohydrates content were observed to be highest.

The reverse trend in moisture and carbohydrate content was however observed for the product made with 100% dry sugar added at the end of the process. The maximum fat content recorded in the blend containing 100% sugar syrup while the maximum protein contents were in skim milk powder fortified products. However, the variations in the contents from different blends were narrow (non-significant P˃0.05). Similar chemical composition results were recorded by Bramhapurkar et al. (2007) in buffalo milk shrikhandwadi.

Table 7: Proximate composition of shrikhandwadi made from buffalo milk chakka using selected sugar blend combinations

Conclusion

Sensory and textural properties of shrikhandwadi was enhanced greatly by blending of buffalo milk chakka with 150% ground sugar and 100% dry sugar at the end of process without incorporation of skim milk powder.

References

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