Khoa

Khoa or khoya is a dairy product widely used in South Asian cuisine of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. It is also known as khuwa in Nepali and khuaa (ଖୁଆ) in Odia. It is made of either dried whole milk or milk thickened by heating in an open iron pan. It is lower in moisture than typical fresh cheeses such as ricotta.

Preparation

A concentration of milk to one-fifth volume is normal in the production of khoa. Khoa is used as the base for a wide variety of Indian sweets. About 600,000 metric tons are produced annually in India. Khoa is made from both cow and water buffalo milk.

Khoa is normally white or pale yellow. If prepared in the winter, it may be saved for use in the summer, and may acquire a green tinge and grainier texture from a surface mould. This is called hariyali (green khoa) and is used to make gulab jamun.

Khoa is made by simmering full-fat milk in an iron karahi for several hours, over a medium fire. The gradual vaporization of its water content leaves coagulated solids in milk, which is khoa. The ideal temperature to avoid scorching is about 80 °C (180 °F). Another quick way of making khoa is to add full fat milk powder to skimmed milk and mixing and heating until it becomes thick. This may, however, not have the same characteristics as traditionally made khoa.

Khoa Do

Khoa Do (Vietnamese: Đỗ Khoa,  listen), born 1979, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a film director, screenwriter, professional speaker and philanthropist who received the Young Australian of the Year Award in 2005. The Do family arrived in Sydney as Vietnamese refugees in 1980. His brother is the comedian Anh Do. Khoa received a scholarship to attend St Aloysius' College in Milson's Point, graduating in 1996 and went on to study Law and Arts at the University of Sydney.

Young Australian of the Year

Do was named the 2005 Young Australian of the Year for his "leadership, compassion, and will to inspire and inform Australians on issues that affect our communities."

Philanthropy

Khoa do has been active in helping the under-privileged in South-Western Sydney, especially the Vietnamese community. In 2000, he was awarded the Young Vietnamese-Australian of the Year Award for his services in drama and working with youths in Sydney's south-west. A year later, Do commenced voluntary work with disadvantaged kids at Cabramatta's Open Family Youth Social Services Centre. He was asked to teach film-making to these 'at risk' youths and saw no better way to teach them than to go ahead and make a film with them. While at University Do worked as an English teacher and job-seeking-skills volunteer among the youth living in Cabramatta. For his efforts, he was awarded the 2001 Young Citizen of the Year Award (Bankstown City) and in 2003, he also received a Centenary Medal.