Provided is a leavening composition containing
starch derived from legumes and / or millet, the leavening composition being configured such that leavening is promoted and
viscoelasticity (
stringiness) characteristic to a
starch network is imparted. The leavening composition satisfies all of (1) to (6). (1) The
starch content is 3
mass% or more in terms of wet
mass. (2) The dry-based
water content is less than 150
mass%. (3) The
dietary fiber content is 3.0 mass% or more in terms of wet mass. (4) The
plant polysaccharide content is 0.1 mass% or more in terms of wet mass. (5) When a water
slurry made of ground product of said composition is analyzed with a rapid visco analyzer under a prescribed condition, the ratio [value β] / [value α] is 100 or less. [Value α]: Breakdown-time
viscosity (cP) during the rising temperature stage (al). [Value β]: Peak
viscosity (cP) during the falling temperature stage (a2). (6) A water suspension liquid of the ground product of said composition is subjected to a treatment with α-
amylase and glucoamylase, subsequently a component that is
ethanol-insoluble but dimethylsulfoxide-soluble is obtained, and gel
filtration chromatography is carried out under a prescribed condition, giving a molecular
weight distribution curve (MWDC3.0-6.0) in which the logarithmic values are in the range from 3.0 inclusive to 6.0 exclusive. Here, when the greatest peak of the molecular weight logarithm is noted as " 1st MP", and the second greatest peak of the molecular weight logarithm is noted as "2nd MP", the ratio (2nd MP / lst MP) of the molecular weight logarithmic value at the peak of 2nd MP to the molecular weight logarithmic value at the peak of 1st MP is 95% or less.