Why I Love My Ulu

Shortly after we began dating – we’d met just once for a fortnight (during the summer of 2021) given that we lived two thousand miles apart, and once I was back home, we video chatted every day – my girlfriend casually mentioned that she’d always wanted an ulu knife.

I’d never heard of one before, although once I looked it up online, I recognized what it was, having seen versions of it on cooking shows.

This was probably only August, but I immediately knew I should buy her one for Christmas, as far away as it seemed at the time.

Of course, I couldn’t find an original ulu – the one shown at the top of this article is a genuine one from Nunivak Island, dating from the 1920s. But I pretty much knew that Amazon could supply with me one that would, at least, be functional.

Sure enough, I found this model:

It’s not as ornate as the antique one above, but, there again, it’s not made with ivory, which is something my girlfriend would not appreciate. But, it’s functional, the handle is easy to grip, and it’s non-slip, which is important with a knife as sharp as this.

As it happened, I paid her and her family a visit at Christmas that year (something we hadn’t originally planned on being able to do), so I was able to give it to her in person. (But because I know most women don’t like receiving only a practical gift, I gave her a necklace too – I’m not that stupid.)

She loved it!

And so did her teenage son, who was living with her at the time and making his own meals.

Fast forward to November 2022, and she drove for four days to my house so we could be together. She’d taken pity on her son and left her ulu in New York, so, I bought her another for the Winter Solstice (which she celebrates in preference to Christmas) – together with another piece of jewellery, of course.

And I have to say, I love using it too. It’s easy to use because all you need to do is get a steady rocking motion going.

There are times when I still prefer a traditional kitchen knife, but the ulu does come in handy for slicing carrots, and for chopping herbs, garlic, chestnuts, and mushrooms, and anything else that needs a fine chop.

Although I’ve never used it for this purpose, you can apparently cut pizza with it too. (I’d probably try it but I already have a pizza cutter.)

One word of warning, though: it is incredibly sharp. I didn’t think it looked especially dangerous, but it would be so easy to cut yourself on the blade, not so much when you’re using it but when you’re washing or drying it.

If, like me, you’re no professional chef, then you might find an ulu useful.