Technological characteristics of tofu from soybean coagulated with cardoon flower extract.

The objective of the present study was to develop tofu with soybean-water soluble extract coagulated with cardoon flower (F1) and magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 , F2). The produced tofu was characterized in terms of physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties during 14 days of storage. The yield of F1 was higher ( p  < 0.05) (195 g/100 soybean seeds) than F2 (162 g/100 soybean seeds). F1 presented higher moisture, protein, acidity, syneresis, and lipids when compared with F2, and a reduction of these contents during the storage. F1 presented lower hardness, stickiness, springiness, and cohesiveness compared with F2. The acceptability of F1 showed a score of 6.00 and F2 of 4.68, and the purchase intention was 3.22 for F1 and 2.23 for F2. This study recommended the use of cardoon flower at 35% level as it has great potential as a coagulant for the elaboration of tofu with higher yield, and acceptability and reasonable purchasing intention.