Chopping Blade

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The curved blade Nigella uses for chopping is an Italian-style implement called a mezzaluna (sometimes also called a hachoir or a herb chopper). Mezzaluna means "half moon". The mezzaluna can be single bladed or double bladed and has a handle at either end. You chop by holding the handles and rocking the blade backwards and forwards over the herbs, chocolate, nuts or other ingredients.

One of the advantages is that even less dexterous people can chop herbs without fear of cutting their fingers. Nigella has a mezzaluna in her Living Kitchen collection. To find mail order sources please go to the Kitchen Kit section of Nigella's website and click on the Classic Collection then click on the mezzaluna. You can also find other makes of mezzalunas at many kitchenware stores and on-line.