Chulesi, Boti, dao, da, aruvamanai, chulesi, pavshi, vili, morli or pirdai is a cutting instrument,[1] most prevalent in Nepal, Maharashtra, South India, Bihar, Pakistan and the Bengal region,[2] Bihar, Tripura, the Barak Valley of Assam.
 Nariyal khuruchni (left) and regular boti (right) | |
| Other names | Chulesi, da, dao, hasua |
|---|---|
| Classification | Knife |
| Uses | Cutting meat, fish and vegetables |
| Types | Kitchen knife |
It is a long curved blade that cuts on a platform held down by the foot. Both hands are used to hold whatever is being cut and move it against the blade. The sharper side faces the user.[3] The method gives excellent control over the cutting process and can be used to cut anything from tiny shrimp to large pumpkins.
Variations and names
editA larger version of the instrument, with a bigger blade, is used for gutting and cutting fish. Another version of the instrument comprises the Nariyal Khuruchni (coconut grater) in the form of a flat round top with sharp small shark-like teeth all around it to serrate coconut. Dao or daa (one of many variants called in Bangladesh, specifically Chittagong and Sylhet) is a variation of boti, which is handheld.
The cutting instrument is not unique to Bengal. It is also used in regions throughout Indian subcontinent. It is known by different names in different languages. The names in various Indian languages or region are:
- Nepali: Chulesi
- Tamil: Arivalmanai or Aruvamanai
- Malayalam: Chirava
- Telugu: Kathipeeta
- Konkani: Addoli
- Marathi: Vili or Morli
- Odia: Panikhi
- Bihar: Pirdai
It is known as Chulesi in Nepal (Nepali: चुलेसी) and used to chop vegetables mainly in the rural areas of Nepal.
Purpose
editIt is designed for the cooks to sit comfortably on the floor and cut vegetables and meat with one leg folded on the wooden base and the other leg stretched. The coconut scraper is in all states mentioned above who produce and use more coconuts in the cuisine.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Chitrita, Banerji (Spring 2001). "The Bengali Bonti". Gastronomica. 1 (2): 23–26. doi:10.1525/gfc.2001.1.2.23.
- ^ Dasgupta, M. (14 October 2000). Calcutta Cookbook: A Treasury of Recipes From Pavement to Place. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-93-5118-149-1. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ WildFilmsIndia (2015-02-19), Women cutting vegetables at a Bengali wedding – India, archived from the original on 2020-02-15, retrieved 2017-07-26