Ulu knives are knives with curved blades. Oftentimes ulu knives come with a cutting board that has a bowl cut out of the middle, into which the blade fits. These knives are used for chopping things, like herbs, finely and quickly. The motion required to use these knives well is a lot different than the manner in which you use a chef’s knife or a paring knife.
Instructions
1. Prepare the food you are going to cut with the ulu knife. Things like herbs, onions and peppers are good to cut. Whatever you are cutting, make sure it is cleaned well and any stems are removed as you will be macerating everything you put on the cutting board.
2. Grip the ulu knife by the handle. You will grip the knife just as you would anything with a handle. Do not extend your fingers, as they may get in the way of the blade risking injury. You may, however, wish to extend your thumb along the back of the knife to give you more control.
3. Begin cutting your food by rocking the ulu knife back and forth across the surface of the food you are cutting, making sure to use the entire blade. Begin slowly so you become familiar with how the blade feels before trying to cut more quickly.
4. Clean the blade with your fingers. Chopping food with an ulu knife cuts it very finely and when you are finished it will cover the blade. Carefully run your finger along the length of the side of the blade, making sure not to touch the sharp edge of the blade.
Tags: cutting board, extend your, like herbs, making sure, with knife