Production of Pachira glabra seed cake (Kulikuli)

Abstract

Utilization of lesser-known food plants through value added processing is a way to develop more sustainable and healthy diets. Pachira glabra seed (Malabar chestnut) was processed into snack (Kuli-kuli) and evaluated for nutrient content and acceptability using standard methods. Proximate composition revealed that P. glabra seed and its seed cake contain 15.75% and 17.50% crude protein and 32.75% and 38.50% carbohydrate, respectively. Mineral constituent of the seed and its seed cake revealed potassium (K) 58.32 mg/kg and 53.01 mg/kg, calcium (Ca) 8.3 mg/kg and 16.9 mg/kg, magnesium (Mg) 10.2 mg/kg and 11.07 mg/kg, respectively. Sensory score shows that P. glabra seed cake was acceptable ( p <0.05) in terms of flavour, taste and crispness, compared with groundnut seed cake. The study showed that the seed cake was rich in nutrients. Also, processing of P. glabra into value added product will prevent wastage of natural resource and increase food available for man.