Oka Cheese
About
Oka is a Canadian cheese named after the small village of Oka, Quebec. Oka cheese has a pungent aroma and soft creamy flavor, sometimes described as nutty and fruity.
Information
Physical Description
The cheese, which is made from cow's milk is covered with a copper-orange, hand-washed rind.Semi-soft cheese. Semi-soft cheeses, such as the famous Oka, are surface-ripened, meaning that the ripening process starts at the surface and progresses toward the interior. This delicate operation takes place in a refrigerated room in which cheeses are periodically turned and washed with a saltwater solution.
Selecting and Buying
Preparation and Use
On pizza, in lasagna, in pasta dishes, in quiches, melted over side vegetables or in sandwiches. It gives taste to soups, it can be used as a garnish in salads. And, its wonderful in fondues to warm those cold winter evenings! Burgundy when Oka is part of the main meal; Zinfandel when the cheese is served as part of a desert.
Conserving and Storing
It can be stored 1 – 4 weeks in the least cold part of the refrigerator, such as the vegetable drawer. It should not come into contact with other foods. It should be wrapped in aluminum foil [although plastic can be used as a substitute]. The aluminum foil protected cheese should then be placed into freezer bags and all air should be expelled before sealing. Should a whitish mould start to form, remove that portion and wrap in a paper towel before rewrapping.
Most semi-soft cheeses can be frozen without affecting their taste. However, because these cheeses have a delicate texture, freezing may alter this texture. You should allow the cheese to cool before freezing.
