Indian firm eyes Europe with new onion paste
PS Golden Foods, based in India, said the flavour profile of its paste is a sweet, caramelized and cooked taste that comes from continuous sautéeing on a low heat with oil until the moisture is reduced.
Weeping is a problem that has been associated with individually quick frozen (IQF). However, the paste contains double the solids level of standard IQF blanched onions and the company said the low moisture content is a benefit for producing frozen entrées.
It can also be used in soups, enrobed (or coated) products and salad dressings, as well as to enhance the flavour of sauces, for making sausages, burger fillings and gravies.
Pradeep Sood, managing director of Golden Foods, said they were hoping to branch out into Europe with this product.
He added: “We have existing clients in the US but are looking for a breakthrough into the European markets.”
“The onion paste can do away with having to process the onions in-house, which takes time, raw materials and increases labour costs and processing or manufacturing cycles.
The paste comes in bulk packing for the food-processing industries. It is also available in consumer retail packs for household consumption. However, 80 percent of the company’s customer base are food processors or manufacturers.
The paste has a shelf life of 18 months without refrigeration, using retort pouch packing imported from Japan.
Sood said: “The retort pouch is a heat-resistant bag made of laminated plastic films or foil.
“It is then heat-sealed and sterilized by pressure cooking in a retort (autoclave) to yield commercially sterilized state of foods.
“As a result, the retort pouch contains heat-treated food which is safe from micro-organisms.”
Red onions of Indian origin are used for the paste which are finely chopped and cooked in cholesterol sunflower oil. The product is free from any preservatives, additives, artificial colours and flavours, according to the company.
Caramelized flavours
DD Williamson identified the potential for onion flavour in 2006 when it announced it had started commercial production of its new caramelized onion flavour ingredient, designed for use in soups and sauces.
It said that caramelized onion had become a popular entrée as people had become used to the taste and claimed to be the first to launch such a product.
DD Williamson had previously introduced its caramelized onion on a test basis, and said the ingredient received a positive response from customers, generating enough interest to lead to full-scale production.
PS Golden Foods manufactures and exports Indian curries, frozen parathas, naans and onion paste.
