Boti

On the left, a coconut grater known as Narkel Kuruni and on the right a regular Boti used to cut fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, etc.

Boti is a cutting instrument, most prevalent in Bengal, a region in eastern South Asia which is now divided between the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Barak Valley of Assam and the independent country of Bangladesh.

A boti is a long curved blade that cuts on a platform held down by foot. Both hands are used to hold whatever is being cut and move it against the blade. The sharper side faces the user. The method gives excellent control over the cutting process and can be used to cut anything from tiny shrimp to large pumpkins.

Variations

A larger version of the boti, with a bigger blade is used for gutting and cutting fish. Another version of the boti comprises the Narkel Kuruni (coconut grater) in the form of a flat round top with sharp small shark-like teeth all around it to serrate coconut. Dao (a more prevalent name in Bangladesh) is a variation of boti, which is hand held.

The cutting instrument is not unique to Bengal. It is well known in Maharashtra and South India also. The names in South India are in Tamil: Arivalmanai or Aruvamanai, Telugu: Kathipeeta, Konkini: Addili, Marathi: Vili or Morli, Odiya: Pankhi, etc.

It is basically 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.