Effect of different cereal blends on the quality of Injera a staple food in the highlands of Ethiopia

Majority of the Ethiopian population are dependent on tef ( Eragrostis tef ( Zucc )  trotter) flour to make injera, a staple food in Ethiopia, although injera could be made  from different cereals. The price of tef, however, is high and the yield potential of the  crop is low. Thus, searching for alternative cheaper grains and developing a blend of  different cereal flours that can produce injera of acceptable quality and improved  nutritional value would be important. This study was conducted to evaluate the  sensory quality of injera made from a blend of different cereals (Tef, barley, sorghum  and maize) with differing ratios: 100, 75, 50 and 25%. The sensory evaluation of  injera was conducted at Mekelle University in a replicated trial. The results  revealed  significant differences among the cereal flour blends in injera texture,  mouth feeling, suppleness and overall rate, while colour, taste and the appearance of injera surface gas holes were non- significant. Injera made from 100% tef flour got the highest preference rank in terms of the texture, mouth feeling, suppleness and overall ratings. Injera made from 50:50 tef + barley blend was the second best in  both texture and suppleness followed by 50:50 tef + sorghum, 50: 50 tef + maize  blends and tef + barley + sorghum blend of equal ratio. Similarly, results from blend of tef + barley + maize, tef + sorgum + maize and from the four varietal blends in  equal ratios produced very good injera quality. From the study results injera quality ranked next to sole tef (tef + barley, tef + sorghum, tef + maize in 50:50 blends and tef + barley + sorghum in equal ratios) could be used as an alternative option for  injera utilization and could provide nutritional and dietary benefits to consumers. Keywords : Sensory attributes, Injera quality, cereal flour blends, Tef, Ethiopia.