What's the term for cutting part way through a vegetable or fruit to increase surface area?

Question

The other day I braised beef asian style (a bit of weak beef stock, sweet soy syrup, and dark soy sauce if you're wondering), and I put in some ginger. I wanted to keep the ginger together but give the most surface area to let its flavors out, so I cut into sticks which were still connected to the base. I was explaining to someone what I'd done, but I could not come up with a name for what I did.

What is the name for this technique?

I've heard someone call it 'book cut' before, but using search engines for that term to determine if it's common was pretty useless. — Joe, Apr 30 '15 at 21:44
@jbarker2160, a fan cut is generally for presentation, but closer than anything else I've found — GdD, May 01 '15 at 07:38

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 09 '17 at 17:30

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I think the term you are looking for is accordion cut. It is the technique you describe, making slices not all the way through, leaving an end or side intact.

It is most widely known for preparation of hasselback potatoes, but can also be used for meat and other items. Please see pics below of hasselback potatoes and meat.

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Other times that I have used this cut is when fine dicing celery and other veggies and, quite similar to your use, when using a block of salt meat for seasoning vegetables.

edited Mar 09 '17 at 17:30

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answered Apr 30 '15 at 19:13

Cindy

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I don't think that's it @Cindy, an accordion cut is used only on meat, cutting alternating top and bottom cuts to make a thicker piece of meat stretch. – GdD May 01 '15 at 07:32

What's the term for cutting part way through a vegetable or fruit to increase surface area?

1 Answers1