TIGER NUT IN MEAT PRODUCTS

The article discusses the physical, chemical and functional properties of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) and the possibility of its use in meat products. Tiger nuts grow on the territory of the Republic of Egypt. This traditional plant goes back to ancient times. As a rule, its tubers are soaked and then eaten as a snack. Tiger nuts are currently used in beverages, bakery, and dairy products. According to the data obtained, tiger nuts contain 15.77% of dietary fibers, 22.64% of lipids, namely 79.41% of unsaturated and 20.59% of saturated fatty acids. The experiment proved that tiger nuts contain a substantial amount of minerals: potassium – 710 mg/100g, calcium and magnesium – 90 mg/100g. The plant also contains vitamins C, E, and B, while its antioxidant activity reaches 10.4 mg/g. The research featured the sensory properties of meat samples with various concentrations of tiger nuts as a partial replacement. The study revealed that the tiger nut is a cream-colored and odorless fine powder, with a weak sweet taste of almonds. During the experiment, 2.5%–10% of tiger nut powder was introduced into first grade beef samples with a 2.5% interval. When used as a meat substitute, 5% of tiger nut was found to have a positive effect on such indicators as taste, smell, color, and aroma. Hence, tiger nuts can be used as a functional ingredient in meat products to increase the content of dietary fibers, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, tiger nuts have a good antioxidant property, which increases the shelf life of meat products, and is a cheap partial substitute for raw meat.