Mezzaluna#Cutting board
{{Short description|Knife with one or more curved blades and a handle on each end}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
Image:Wiegemesser mit Brett.JPG#file
File:Mezzaluna tritacarne - Musei del cibo - Prosciutto - 0033.tif
A mezzaluna ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|ɛ|t|s|ə|ˈ|l|uː|n|ə}}, {{IPA|it|ˌmɛddzaˈluːna|lang}}) 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-mezzaluna.htm |title= What is a Mezzaluna? |website=wiseGEEK |access-date= 2013-09-13}} They most commonly have a single blade, but are sometimes seen with two or three blades.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fjBEY25hWBUC&q=Mezzaluna+multiple+blades&pg=PT39|title=Keys to Good Cooking|last=McGee|first=Harold|date=2010-10-26|publisher=Doubleday Canada|isbn=9780385671309|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HaxVDQAAQBAJ&q=Mezzaluna+multiple+blades&pg=PT571|title=La Varenne Pratique: Part 4, Baking, Preserving & Desserts|last=Willan|first=Anne|date=1989-09-17|publisher=BookBaby|isbn=9780991134632|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/23/dining/test-kitchen-a-half-moon-that-brightens-kitchen-labors.html|title=TEST KITCHEN; A Half Moon That Brightens Kitchen Labors|last=Hesser|first=Amanda|date=2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-09|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
Name
Mezzaluna means 'half moon' in Italian,{{cite web |url=http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/05/02/kitchen-tool-mezzaluna-picks |title=Kitchen Tool: Mezzaluna Picks |series=Gadget of the week |last1=Schweitzer |first1=Lisa |website=Food Republic |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=2013-09-13}} after the curved shape of the blade, and is the most common name used in the UK. Other names used include herb chopper, {{lang|fr|hachoir}}, {{IPA|fr|aʃ.waʁ|}} (from French), makhratah (from Arabic), and {{Transliteration|yi|hokmesser}} (from Yiddish).{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}
Use
It is typically used for mincing herbs or garlic, but it can be used for chopping other things such as cheese or meat. Very large single blade versions are sometimes used for pizza.{{cite web |last1=Wiener |first1=Scott |date=December 8, 2012 |title=A Brief History of the Pizza Slicer |url=http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2012/08/scotts-pizza-chronicles-the-story-of-the-pizza-slicer.html |access-date=February 9, 2013 |website=Serious Eats |series=Scott's Pizza Chronicles}} Common uses in Italy include preparation of a soffritto or a pesto, etc. In countries like Egypt, Jordan,Israel and Palestine, it is used to chop mulukhiyah.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}
Cutting board
Mezzalunas may be found sold with a cutting board that has a shallow indentation in it, marketed as a herb chopper.
See also
{{Commons category-inline|Mezzalunas}}
- Kitchen utensil
- Tumi
- Ulu
- Drawknife – a type of knife with two handles
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kitchen Tools}}
{{Knives}}
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