PREPARATION AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF ENRICHED SALAD DRESSINGS BASED ON COLD-PRESSED SAFFLOWER OIL.

The objectives of this study were to prepare and characterize two different salad dressings based on coldpressed safflower oil. Common physico-chemical and thermal properties, compositions, sensory descriptive analysis, and consumer tests were completed. Both samples had acceptable free fatty acidity, peroxide and pH values, and had color values reflecting the spices (red pepper and green spices). Both dressings were liquid at around -14 to -19 °C and were pourable. They were good sources of essential fatty acids, including around 91-92% of total unsaturated fatty acids. Total phytosterol contents were around 1693-1700 mg/kg, with a majority of β-sitosterol. Further, both samples had around 284 mg/kg of total tocopherols. The panel used 8 sensory terms (consistency, sweet, salty, sour, bitter, spicy, vinegary, and metallic) to describe the samples. Consumers liked their appearance and smell/aroma, but taste/flavor and general acceptance scores were lower. Further studies to improve taste properties are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]