Abstract

Introduction: Sourdough fermentation has been shown to improve the sensory and nutritional quality of bakery products. In this context, the incorporation of native legumes represents a promising strategy for the development of functional foods. Objective: To formulate and evaluate a sourdough bread enriched with Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Chilean common bean) flour, assessing its nutritional improvement and sensory acceptability. Materials and methods: Four bread formulations were prepared: (i) control bread with Triticum spelta flour and commercial yeast (PLC), (ii) bread with Triticum spelta sourdough (PMC), (iii) bread with a mixture of Triticum spelta and Phaseolus vulgaris sourdoughs (PMM), and (iv) bread with Phaseolus vulgaris sourdough (PMP). All formulations were evaluated for fermentation behavior, crumb structure, and sensory attributes using a 5-point hedonic scale. Results: The sourdough formulations, particularly PMM, showed improvements in aroma, texture, and loaf volume compared to the control. Although PMP exhibited a denser crumb and a more pronounced legume flavor, its overall acceptability remained within acceptable ranges. The inclusion of bean flour, recognized for its high protein content, suggests a potential nutritional contribution to the final product, supporting its use as a functional ingredient in breadmaking. Conclusions: The combination of Triticum spelta and bean sourdoughs (PMM) emerged as the most promising formulation in terms of technological performance and sensory acceptability. These findings support the feasibility of incorporating legume-based sourdough into bread formulations as a strategy to improve product quality and diversify raw material use, without making claims regarding sustainability or environmental impact, which were not evaluated in the present study. Arch Latinoam Nutr 2026; 76(1): 1-11.