Batan (stone)

The batán is a kitchen utensil used to process different kinds of foods in South American, Andean and Indian cuisine. It has a flat stone (the batán proper) and a grinding stone called an uña. The uña is held in both hands and rocked over the food in the batán. Depending on the use, the uña's weight can be slightly held back, allowed to move freely, or used to apply additional pressure. The rocking movements also vary depending on the application, and the grinding is done dry or with water or oil.