Flour composition containing non-wheat cereal components, and noodles produced therefrom

Abstract

A dry flour composition is provided to be mixed with added water for forming dough. The flour composition includes a wheat flour component, and a non-wheat cereal component. The amount of the non-wheat cereal component is at least 30% by weight based on the total weight of the dry flour composition in the absence of added water. The dry flour composition contains an additive, which is selected from a group consisting of wheat gluten protein and Curdlan, in an amount sufficient to provide a net-like structure for the dough.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A dry flour composition to be mixed with added water for forming dough, the flour composition comprising: 
 a wheat flour component, and a non-wheat cereal component, wherein the amount of said non-wheat cereal component is at least 30% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition, and wherein said dry flour composition contains an additive, which is selected from a group consisting of wheat gluten protein and Curdlan, in an amount sufficient to provide a net-like structure for the dough.    
     
     
         2 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the amount of said non-wheat cereal component is at least 50% by weight of the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         3 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said additive is wheat gluten protein, said wheat flour component being composed of a mixture of wheat gluten flour and wheat flour, said wheat flour component containing crude protein which in turn contains wheat gluten protein.  
     
     
         4 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the amount of said crude protein is at least 6% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         5 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the amount of said crude protein is at least 10% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         6 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said additive is wheat gluten protein, said wheat flour component including wheat gluten flour, and containing crude protein which in turn contains wheat gluten protein.  
     
     
         7 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the amount of said wheat gluten flour is 10% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         8 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said non-wheat cereal component is selected from a group consisting of oat, buckwheat, barley, rice, brownrice, Chinese yam and pearl barley.  
     
     
         9 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said non-wheat cereal component is oat.  
     
     
         10 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising Curdlan.  
     
     
         11 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the amount of said Curdlan is 0 to 1.5% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         12 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said additive is Curdlan.  
     
     
         13 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the amount of said Curdlan is 7.5 to 15% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         14 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising salt.  
     
     
         15 . The dry flour composition as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the amount of said salt is 0.1 to 1.5% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition.  
     
     
         16 . A noodle product produced from a dry flour composition, said dry flour composition comprising: 
 a wheat flour component, and a non-wheat cereal component, wherein the amount of said non-wheat cereal component is at least 30% by weight based on the total weight of said dry flour composition in the absence of added water, and wherein said dry flour composition contains an additive, which is selected from a group consisting of wheat gluten protein and Curdlan, in an amount sufficient to provide a net-like structure for the dough.    
     
     
         17 . The noodle product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said non-wheat cereal component is selected from a group consisting of oat, buckwheat, barley, rice, brownrice, Chinese yam and pearl barley.  
     
     
         18 . The noodle product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said noodle product is produced by rolling.  
     
     
         19 . The noodle product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said noodle product is produced by extruding.  
     
     
         20 . The noodle product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said non-wheat cereal component is oat.