Formulation and Nutritional Evaluation of Instant Vegan Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Soup Powder Enriched with Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Mung Bean (Vigna radiata), and Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)

Abstract

Although plant-based convenience foods have gained significant market share, many are high in fat, salt, and sugar while low in nutrients. The current study aimed to develop a vegan oyster mushroom soup powder enriched with moringa, mung bean, and pumpkin. These ingredients were chosen for their high nutritional value and availability. Four soup formulas, each containing varying amounts of moringa (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%), were prepared, and a sensory evaluation, proximate analysis, and total aerobic plate count were carried out. The 1% moringa formulation showed the highest consumer acceptance. In this formula, moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrate, and energy content were reported as 13.6%, 7.6%, 16.3%, 2.2%, 9.8%, 50.5%, and 287 kcal/100 g, respectively. The novel powdered soup product had higher amounts of phenolic compounds, total antioxidants, and iron compared to local, commercially available equivalents. Total aerobic plate counts remained below 10⁵ CFU/g; a common acceptability limit for dried soups, throughout the 4-month storage study under ambient conditions. Overall, the developed soup powder demonstrated superior nutritional quality and could support consumers in meeting their daily nutrient requirements. With further refinement, particularly by optimizing the drying process to better retain heat-sensitive nutrients, this product shows potential as an affordable and nutritious option to address inadequate protein intake and iron deficiency in Sri Lanka.

Keywords: antioxidants; moringa; oyster mushroom; soup powder; vegan.

Figure 1

Flowchart for the preparation of mushroom-moringa-mung bean soup powder.

Figure 2

Radar chart of mean scores obtained for the sensory attributes of four soup formulas (S0—0% Moringa, S1—1% Moringa, S2—2% Moringa, and S3—3% Moringa). Each attribute is rated on a scale from 1 to 7 (Scale: 7—Like very much, 1—Dislike very much), with higher scores indicating more favorable sensory qualities.