A mezzaluna (/ˌmɛtsəˈluːnə/, Italian: [ˌmɛddzaˈluːna]) is a knife consisting of one or more curved blades with a handle on each end, which is rocked back and forth chopping the ingredients below with each movement.[1] They most commonly have a single blade, but are sometimes seen with two or three blades.[2][3][4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Machrata.jpg/220px-Machrata.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Mezzaluna_tritacarne_-_Musei_del_cibo_-_Prosciutto_-_0033.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Mezzaluna_tritacarne_-_Musei_del_cibo_-_Prosciutto_-_0033.tif.jpg)
It is typically used for mincing herbs or garlic, but it can be used for chopping other things such as cheese or meat.[1] Very large single blade versions are sometimes used for pizza.[5] Common uses in Italy include preparation of a soffritto or a pesto, etc. In countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine, it is used to chop mulukhiyah.
Name
editMezzaluna means 'half moon' in Italian,[6] after the curved shape of the blade,[6] and is the most common name used in the UK. Other names used include herb chopper, hachoir, [aʃ.waʁ] (from French), makhratah (from Arabic), and hokmesser (from Yiddish).
Cutting board
editMezzalunas may be found sold with a cutting board that has a shallow indentation in it,[1] marketed as a herb chopper.
See also
editMedia related to Mezzalunas at Wikimedia Commons
- Kitchen utensil
- Tumi
- Ulu
- Drawknife – a type of knife with two handles
References
edit- ^ a b c "What is a Mezzaluna?". wiseGEEK. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ McGee, Harold (26 October 2010). Keys to Good Cooking. Doubleday Canada. ISBN 9780385671309.
- ^ Willan, Anne (17 September 1989). La Varenne Pratique: Part 4, Baking, Preserving & Desserts. BookBaby. ISBN 9780991134632.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hesser, Amanda (2002). "TEST KITCHEN; A Half Moon That Brightens Kitchen Labors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ Wiener, Scott (8 December 2012). "A Brief History of the Pizza Slicer". Serious Eats. Scott's Pizza Chronicles. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ a b Schweitzer, Lisa (2 May 2011). "Kitchen Tool: Mezzaluna Picks". Food Republic. Gadget of the week. Retrieved 13 September 2013.