Batan (stone)
Encyclopedia
The batan is a kitchen utensil used to process different kinds of foods in South American Andean cuisine. It has a flat stone (the batan proper) and a grinding stone called a uña. The uña is held in both hands and rocked over the food in the batan. Depending on the process wished, the uña's weight is slightly held back, let loose over, or pressed on. The rocking movements also vary depending on the procedure. The grinding is done dry or with water or oil.
In Andean households many different dishes are prepared in this manner, in rural and urban areas. The most important use it has is for preparing llajwa
. For many Bolivians, Peruvians, Ecuadoreans and Colombians it's not the same when done in a blender.
It is also used to husk grains, wash quinoa
from its alkaloid (saponin
), grind grains, crush papa lisa and even to prepare small quantities of flour.
The use of the batan is so widespread that you will find it in a smaller form among the kitchen appliances in Bolivia in any modern La Paz
apartment building, and in many rural zones of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
It is also used in India, in large number of households. It is known as "Sil-Batta" in Hindi with Sil referring to flat stone and Batta referring to a cylindrical grinding stone. It is known as Pata-Varvanta in Marathi and used in the state of Maharashtra. These grinding stones are primarily used to prepare chutney
and masala
for cooking and occasional use including grinding soaked lentils in preparation for dosa/vadas and papadum
.
In Andean households many different dishes are prepared in this manner, in rural and urban areas. The most important use it has is for preparing llajwa
Llajwa
Llajua or llajwa is a hot sauce prepared from hot chili peppers called locotos and tomato. Sometimes onions are added, and one of two seasoning herbs cultivated especially for this purpose: kilkiña in Cochabamba and wakataya in the Altiplano and other valleys of Bolivia...
. For many Bolivians, Peruvians, Ecuadoreans and Colombians it's not the same when done in a blender.
It is also used to husk grains, wash quinoa
Quinoa
Quinoa , a species of goosefoot , is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the grass family...
from its alkaloid (saponin
Saponin
Saponins are a class of chemical compounds, one of many secondary metabolites found in natural sources, with saponins found in particular abundance in various plant species...
), grind grains, crush papa lisa and even to prepare small quantities of flour.
The use of the batan is so widespread that you will find it in a smaller form among the kitchen appliances in Bolivia in any modern La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
apartment building, and in many rural zones of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
It is also used in India, in large number of households. It is known as "Sil-Batta" in Hindi with Sil referring to flat stone and Batta referring to a cylindrical grinding stone. It is known as Pata-Varvanta in Marathi and used in the state of Maharashtra. These grinding stones are primarily used to prepare chutney
Chutney
Chutney is a a condiment used in South Asian cuisine that usually contains a spice and vegetable mix.Chutneys are wet or dry, having a coarse to fine texture. The Anglo-Indian loan word refers to fresh and pickled preparations indiscriminately, with preserves often sweetened. At least several...
and masala
Masala
Masala or massala is a term used in South Asian cuisines to mostly describe a mixture of spices. A masala can either be a combination of dried spices, or a paste made from a mixture of spices and other ingredients—often garlic, ginger, onions and chilli paste...
for cooking and occasional use including grinding soaked lentils in preparation for dosa/vadas and papadum
Papadum
Papadum, also known as papad in Northern India, , pappadam in Malayalam, happala in Kannada, appalam in Tamil, appadum in Telugu, pappadum or poppadom in the UK, is a thin, crisp Indian preparation sometimes described as a cracker. It is typically served as an accompaniment to a meal in India...
.