The use of traditional foods can enrich our diet, perpetuating important elements of local knowledge and cultural inheritance. Raw, soaked and cooked samples of two Fabaceae species (Cicer arietinum L. and Lathyrus sativus L.) were characterized regarding nutritional and bioactive properties.
Results: L. sativus gave the highest carbohydrate, protein, ash, SFA and PUFA content, and lowest fat and energy value. Furthermore, it also showed the highest concentration in flavonoids and antioxidant activity. C. arietinum gave the highest concentration of sugars, organic acids and tocopherols. Soaking process did not affect significantly macronutrients, but cooking (boiling) decreased protein, ash, sugars and organic acids, and increased carbohydrates, fat, tocopherols, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. No differences were obtained for fatty acids composition.
Conclusion: The present study highlights the nutritional profile and bioactive properties of these farmer varieties of C. arietinum and L. sativus pulses, and valorises their traditional consumption and the use in modern diets.
