"FORMULATION OF A READY- MADE MIXTURE FOR "GNOCCHI" AND OTHER CORRELATED FOODS"
The present invention refers to an industrial formulation, optimized and formula-balanced, of a ready-made in-powder mixture for "gnocchi" and other correlated foods, just needing to add water to the mixture to obtain the cooking paste. It differs from the semi-formulated mixtures nowadays on the market, that need the adding of other ingredients, bringing an uneasy preparation and rising of the costs, the present invention's formulation being prepared in a quicker and easier way, in lesser time, and obtaining a paste with unique texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color.
As it is well known by the technicians skilled in the branch of food processing, the in-powder mixtures now on the market for obtaining "gnocchi", are formulations that not always contain all the necessary ingredients, being in some cases semi- . formulated mixtures with ordinary or special wheat flour, combined with low quantities of dehydrated potato, and low quantities of milk, optionally containing eggs, fat, salt, and spices, in such a way that the consumer has, to obtain the required paste, to add water and complementary quantities of bulk potato, potato "puree" or milk, in order to improve the quality, what seems, evidently, a great disadvantage, for it raises the cost for the final user, besides the more difficult and complex preparation.
"FORMULATION OF A READY- MADE MIXTURE FOR "GNOCCHI" AND OTHER CORRELATED FOODS", that is the object of the present invention, was developed to provide a more reliable option to the consumer, through a mixture rich in powder or flakes dehydrated potato and milk, and wheat semolina, that is the most noble part of wheat, resulting in a ready and complete mixture, such mixture being easily prepared, by adding water, mixing, and manually beating, obtaining "gnocchi" with lower final costs, and texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color that are unique to the final product. Additionally, the formulation of this mixture may be utilized in a multipurpose way, being possible to produce exquisite correlated foods, like rissoles, Polish "pierogi", etc.
After long, expensive and constant researches and practical experiments, it has been concluded that the
optimized, formula-balanced, ready-made, and ideal formulation for the powder mixture, object of the present invention, is the following:
Ingredient Minimum, % Maximum, %
Wheat semolina 20.00 76.50
Dehydrated potato puree 20.00 76.50 Skim milk powder 2.00 5.00 Powdered Egg yolk 1.00 2.50 Salt 1.00 3.00
Monosodium glutamate 0.40 0.60
The making of "gnocchi" paste is as follows:
a) At even 100 g of ready mixture, put on a basin, or another proper recipe, 100 ml of water. The water volume may be adjusted according to the consumer taste and needs. b) Mix thoroughly and beat the resulting paste, until the paste turns itself smooth and doesn't stick to the hands. c) Upon a flour-lined surface, preferably semolina-lined, rolls the paste in long rolls approximately one inch thick, until the paste stay firm, cutting the rolls in approximately one inch length pieces. d) Cook the "gnocchi" in boiling water (some one liter of water for each 100 g of mixture), until the pieces can reach up the water surface. e) Pull out the "gnocchi" with a skimming ladle, draining the excess water. f) Serve with your favorite sauce.
To obtain the above-cited variations in the ingredients percentages, we performed several tests, preparing product samples, and evaluating the resulting quality. The following formulations show the best medium and extreme percent formulas, that had maintained or not the characteristic qualities of the final product:
EXAMPLE NR. 1: It was prepared a ready mixture with a medium formula, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other
correlated products with the ideal characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient Content, % weight
Wheat semolina 59.50
Dehydrated potato puree 32.00
Skim milk powder 4.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50
EXAMPLE R. 2: It was prepared a ready mixture with a minimum content of wheat semolina, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other correlated products with acceptable characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient Weight, %
Wheat semolina 20.00
Dehydrated potato puree 71.50
Skim milk powder 4.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50
EXAMPLE NR. 3: It was prepared a ready mixture with a minimum content of wheat semolina, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other correlated products without the acceptable characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient Weight, %
Wheat semolina 15.00
Dehydrated potato puree 76.50
Skim milk powder 4.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50
EXAMPLE NR. 4: It was prepared a ready mixture with a minimum content of dehydrated potato, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other correlated products with the acceptable characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient Content, % weight
Wheat semolina 71.50
Dehydrated potato puree 20.00
Skim milk powder 4.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50
EXAMPLE NR. 5: It was prepared a ready mixture with a minimum content of dehydrated potato, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other correlated products without the acceptable characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient C ontent, % weight
Wheat semolina 76.50
Dehydrated potato purέe 15.00
Skim milk powder 4.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50
EXAMPLE NR. 6: It was prepared a ready mixture with a minimum content of skim milk powder, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other correlated products with the acceptable characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient Content, % weight
Wheat semolina 70.50
Dehydrated potato puree 23.00
Skim milk powder 2.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50
EXAMPLE NR. 7: It was prepared a ready mixture with a minimum content of skim milk powder, as follows, just adding water, and adopting the recommended instructions, obtaining "gnocchi" and other correlated products without the acceptable characteristics of texture, taste, smelling, palatability and color:
Ingredient Content, % weight
Wheat semolina 71.50
Dehydrated potato puree 23.00
Skim milk powder 1.00
Powdered Egg yolk 2.50
Salt 1.50
Monosodium glutamate 0.50