What it means
خرد کردن (khord kardan) means to chop, mince, or cut something into small pieces. The word خرد (khord) is a native Persian adjective meaning small or fine, from Middle Persian *xwurd. When combined with کردن it becomes a verb: to make small, to chop. It is the standard everyday term for chopping vegetables, herbs, or meat. A related term is ریز کردن (riz kardan), which also means to make fine or to mince, and is nearly synonymous in spoken Persian. خرد کردن is slightly more neutral and formal in written recipes.
How to use it
- سبزی رو خرد کن برای کوکو. (Sabzi ro khord kon barâye kuku.) “Chop the herbs for the kuku.”
- پیاز رو ریز خرد کردم. (Piyâz ro riz khord kardam.) “I finely chopped the onion.”
- گوشت رو خرد کن و بذار توی ماهیتابه. (Gusht ro khord kon o bezâr tu-ye mâhitâbe.) “Chop the meat and put it in the frying pan.”
- گردو رو درشت خرد کن. (Gerdu ro dorosht khord kon.) “Chop the walnuts coarsely.”
Cultural note
خرد کردن سبزی, chopping fresh herbs, is one of the most practiced kitchen tasks in Iran. Dishes like ghormeh sabzi, kuku sabzi, and ash reshteh require large quantities of finely chopped fresh herbs including parsley, coriander, fenugreek, and chives. Many families prepare herb bundles in advance and chop them in bulk for freezing. The quality of the chop, fine versus coarse, directly affects the texture and flavour of these dishes, and Persian cooks often have strong preferences about knife technique.