Akkawi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Akkawi cheese |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Other names | Akawi, Akawieh and Ackawi |
| Region | Levant |
| Town | named after Akka (Acre, present-day Israel) |
| Source of milk | Cow |
| Texture | Soft |
| Named after | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 70: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Akkawi cheese is a tasty white cheese. It is also known as Akawi, Akawieh, or Ackawi. This cheese gets its name from the city of Akka, which is in present-day Israel. It is a popular type of cheese in the Middle East.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Akkawi cheese is named after the port city of Akka. This city is also called Akko. In the Arabic language, "Akkawi" means "from Akka." So, the name tells you where this special cheese comes from!
How Akkawi Cheese is Made
Akkawi cheese is usually made from cow's milk. Sometimes, it can also be made from goat or sheep milk. The milk is often pasteurized. This means it is heated to kill any harmful germs.
This cheese is very popular in the Middle East. You can find it in countries like Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Cyprus. People in these areas often eat Akkawi cheese with soft flatbread for lunch or dinner.
To make Akkawi, the cheese is pressed into square shapes. Then, it is soaked in a salty water mix called a brine for two days. This helps to cure the cheese and give it its special taste.
Taste and Texture
Akkawi cheese is white and has a smooth feel. It tastes a little bit salty and is quite mild. People often eat it by itself or with fresh fruit.
The texture of Akkawi cheese is similar to mozzarella or feta. It does not melt easily, which makes it great for eating as a table cheese. You can store Akkawi cheese for up to a year. Its unique taste and texture come from how the curds (the solid parts of the milk) are handled for a long time during its making.
Akkawi Cheese Supply
Sometimes, getting enough Akkawi cheese has been a challenge in the Middle East. For example, during a difficult time in Lebanon, there were not enough dairy animals. This meant the country had to bring in Akkawi cheese from other places. In some areas, like Los Angeles, people even tried to make a similar cheese. They would soak feta cheese in water to make it less salty, so it would taste more like Akkawi.
See also
In Spanish: Queso akkawi para niños
