The Effect of Spice Powders on Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Components, Fatty Acids, Mineral Contents and Sensory Properties of “Keşkek”, Which Is a Traditional Food

“Keşkek”, which is a dish of Western Anatolia, Thrace, the Eastern Anatolia Region, the Black Sea and Central Anatolia, is a traditional dish made mainly of split wheat and meat—although it varies according to the regions in Anatolia—which is usually made at weddings and holidays. In this study, the effects of thyme, coriander and cumin spices on the fat content, bioactive properties, phenolic component, fatty acid composition, mineral contents and sensory properties of “Keşkek” were investigated. The oil yields of “Keşkek” types were determined to be between 14.90 (control) and 21.20% (with cumin). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of “Keşkek” types’ added spices were established as between 7.02 (control) and 77.10 mg/100 g Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) (with thyme) to 20.24 (control) and 132.14 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g (with thyme), respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activity values of “Keşkek” samples varied between 0.04 (control) and 2.78 mmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/kg (with thyme). Among these phenolic constituents, gallic acid was the most abundant, followed by catechin, rutin and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, in descending order. Oleic and linoleic acid contents of the “Keşkek” oils were detected between 25.51 (with thyme) and 30.58% (with cumin) to 38.28 (with cumin) and 48.49% (control), respectively. P, K, Mg and S were the major minerals of “Keşkek” samples. Considering the sensory characteristics of the “Keşkek” samples, “Keşkek” with thyme was appreciated, followed by “Keşkek” with cumin and “control and Keşkek” with coriander in decreasing order.