Maida flour is a finely milled, refined, and bleached wheat flour commonly used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Here's an overview of its characteristics, uses, and nutritional profile:

Characteristics

• Texture: Fine and smooth, similar to cake flour.
• Color: White due to the bleaching process.
• Gluten Content: High, making it suitable for baking and pastry making.

Uses

• Baking: Used in making bread, cakes, pastries, and biscuits.
• Cooking: Essential for Indian snacks like samosas, bhaturas, and parathas. It's also used in making noodles, pasta, and other dishes.
• Thickening Agent: Used in sauces, soups, and gravies.

Nutritional Profile

• Calories: Approximately 364 calories per 100 grams.
• Carbohydrates: High in carbs, about 76 grams per 100 grams.
• Protein: Contains around 10-12 grams of protein per 100 grams.
• Fat: Low in fat, about 1 gram per 100 grams.
• Fiber: Low in dietary fiber since the bran and germ are removed during processing.