High-amylose corn in gluten-free pasta: Strategies to deliver nutritional benefits ensuring the overall quality

High-amylose corn alone or in combination (25% and 50%) with conventional corn was used to produce gluten-free pasta. Flour pre-gelatinization in a tank (process A) or on a conveyor belt (process B) were tested. Resistant starch (RS), soluble (SPAs) and cell-wall bound phenolic acids (CWBPAs) and antioxidant capacity were significantly higher in high-amylose corn pasta. Cooked pasta from process B showed a higher SPA concentration, likely due to the lower cooking loss. The structure of pasta prepared with process B was more homogeneous, whereas it was more compact in the case of process A, as shown by a lower starch susceptibility to α-amylase hydrolysis, higher beginning of gelatinization temperature and lower water absorption. 25% HA represents a good compromise between high RS (4.2%) and good cooking behavior. At higher HA levels, process B is more suitable to obtain pasta with a better cooking quality.