Mezzaluna
Encyclopedia
A mezzaluna is a knife
consisting of a single or double curved blade
with a handle on each end. It is often used for chopping herbs or very large single blade versions are sometimes used for pizza
or pesto
.
Mezzaluna means "half moon
" in Italian
, after the curved shape of the blade, and is the most common name used in the UK. Other names used include herb chopper
or hachoir, which is its French name.
that has a shallow indentation in it, marketed as a herb chopper
.
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
consisting of a single or double curved blade
Blade
A blade is that portion of a tool, weapon, or machine with a cutting edge and/or a pointed tip that is designed to cut and/or puncture, stab, slash, chop, slice, thrust, or scrape animate or inanimate surfaces or materials...
with a handle on each end. It is often used for chopping herbs or very large single blade versions are sometimes used for pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
or pesto
Pesto
Pesto is a sauce originating in Genoa in the Liguria region of northern Italy , and traditionally consists of crushed garlic, basil and pine nuts blended with olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano and Fiore Sardo...
.
Name
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
" in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, after the curved shape of the blade, and is the most common name used in the UK. Other names used include herb chopper
Herb chopper
An herb chopper is a cooking tool specifically designed for chopping fresh herbs. There are a variety of different designs and styles for herb choppers. Some include a series of blades to finely slice the herbs. Others are compact food processors. A mezzaluna paired with a concave cutting board...
or hachoir, which is its French name.
Cutting board
Mezzalunas may be found sold with a cutting boardCutting board
A cutting board is a durable board on which to place material for cutting. Common is the kitchen cutting board used in preparing food; other types exist for cutting raw materials such as leather or plastic....
that has a shallow indentation in it, marketed as a herb chopper
Herb chopper
An herb chopper is a cooking tool specifically designed for chopping fresh herbs. There are a variety of different designs and styles for herb choppers. Some include a series of blades to finely slice the herbs. Others are compact food processors. A mezzaluna paired with a concave cutting board...
.