Sometimes called the “lost crop of the Incas,” the oca is a colorful, delicious alternative to regular potatoes and yams. This perennial South American tuber, also known as uqa, has a slightly tangy flavor, and similar to potatoes, is crunchy when raw and starchier when boiled or baked..
Also asked, what does OCA taste like?
Unlike potatoes, oca tubers can be eaten both raw and cooked. When they're raw, they have a fresh lemony flavour with a crisp, crunchy texture similar to that of a carrot. The skin is edible too and can be left on when raw. When they're cooked, the lemony flavour disappears and the tubers have a nuttier taste.
Similarly, what country eats OCA? Oca was introduced to Europe in 1830 as a competitor to the potato, and to New Zealand as early as 1860. In New Zealand, oca has become a popular table vegetable and is simply called yam or New Zealand yam (although not a true yam).
Subsequently, question is, how do you eat OCA?
Oca can be eaten raw with pepper and lemon juice. It tastes good roasted or boiled and served like potatoes and can be added to stews and soups. Oca doesn't take up much room in a vegetable garden and adds pretty foliage and provides an interesting autumn/winter source of food.
Can you eat OCA raw?
Culinary uses of Oca The flesh is firm but juicy and crisp when eaten raw or lightly cooked, and becoming more starchy if fully cooked. The tubers don't require peeling when eating Oca raw - just wash them clean, and they can be sliced to add a hint of a lemony zest to salads.
Related Question Answers
Do you peel OCA?
“They are very versatile—great for roasting and baking, and you don't need to peel them before cooking. Cooking them this way, you get to really experience its unique taste.” Ocas can also be boiled or steamed, but be aware that when you do this—especially boiling them—the oca can lose some of its amazing colour.What do you do with an OCA?
The oca can be prepared like most root vegetables by being boiled, baked or fried. In the Andes it is part of stews and soups; served like potatoes or can be served as a sweet. Oca is eaten raw in Mexico with salt, lemonand hot pepper.Are Shamrocks edible?
In addition to being called Irish shamrock, wood sorrel also is called sour dock thanks to its edible, sour leaves, which have a lemony tang. According to Plants for a Future, wood sorrel leaves may be eaten raw or cooked, and the flowers may be used as a decorative edible topper for salads.Where are OCA farms located?
We have Organic Oca available from our local growing partner, Mustard Seed Farms, located in St. Paul, Oregon. Oca is a tuber originating in South America. As a tuber, it is similar to potatoes and have a color range from light-pink to bright-red.Can I grow yams in the UK?
Sweet potatoes are traditionally grown in warmer climates but don't be put off. New, hardier cultivars mean that now you can grow sweet potatoes in the UK. Follow our sweet potato growing tips for bumper crops in a cooler climate.How long does it take for yams to grow?
approximately 14 weeks
How do I prepare for OCA?
Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Cut any large oca into chunks so they're all roughly the same size. Toss in just enough oil to coat and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes for very small ones, 20-25 minutes or so for larger oca, until just tender when pierced with a knife.Is OCA a vegetable?
Oxalis tuberosa. These tubers are known as uqa in Quechua, oca or cubio in Spanish, New Zealand yam and a number of other alternative names. The plant was brought into cultivation in the central and southern Andes for its tubers, which are used as a root vegetable.How do you harvest OCA?
Harvest your tubers 1 to 2 weeks after the first hard frost. Use a table fork or small spade to gently lift the foliage from underneath. Oca tubers grow close to the surface so you will not need to dig. Wait until the foliage has died down after the first hard frost, then harvest your oca.How do you know when to harvest yams?
Sweet potatoes are usually ready to harvest just as the ends of the vines begin to turn yellow, or just before frost in the North. To avoid injuring tubers, find the primary crown of the plant you want to dig, and then use a digging fork to loosen an 18-inch wide circle around the plant.How do you store Oca tubers?
OCA Instructions Basically grow and use Oca much as you would potatoes. Store the tubers until spring in a paper (not plastic) bag or envelope in a cool but frost-free place. Note that a garden shed is NOT ideal for any sort of seed storage as they tend to heat up on sunny days. In spring, plant about 1 foot apart.How do you grow yams indoors?
By rooting the yam in water and then planting the shoots in growing medium, you will have a green, vining plant that will thrive either indoors or outdoors. Fill the glass or jar with cool water and position the yam in the water so that approximately one-third to one-half of the yam is under the surface of the water. 
