do you find yourself using a mortar/pestle much?

[boomchakabowwow]

I bought a run of the mill M/P before I knew jacksquat about them. if I could do it over again, I would probably get one that is much bigger. heck, I still might!

I use mine quite often. yesterday was grinding chili and garlic and shallots for a dipping sauce. day before mashing lemongrass for a marinade. today was fun!! I toasted sesame seeds and used the M/P to grind it into a super smooth paste. the sound, the tactile feedback of the gritty work, the smells, all of it is so relaxing and probably took my blood pressure down a few notches.

Sichuan peppercorns, rice powder, palm sugar..the uses are endless. I've bashed chicken breast with the thing!

might be my imagination, but things worked out in a mortar and pestle taste better than some food processor or grinder.

any favorite mortar and pestle recommendations?

 

[Carbonara]

I use a molcajete (Mexican version) all the time. I find it very useful for preparing sauces and rubs (dry and wet)

 

[nopomo]

At least once a week, but that might be a cultural thing. It’s the most practical way of making adobo. This guayacán one is my favorite.

 

[Michi]

I bought a heavy granite mortar last year and haven't looked back.

It is quite large, so I can prepare decent amounts without everything spilling. It also is really heavy (4.3 kg) so it does not tip over or slide around. The inside surface is quite rough, meaning that there is enough friction for seeds to grab onto the side for grinding, instead of endlessly sliding around.

I use it a lot, and it is a nice-looking tool, made from natural materials, that I enjoy using and like the look of.

 

[noj]

Use frequently for whole spices, and occasional home made Thai chili paste.

 

[stringer]

I use mine frequently for making Indian and Thai and Mexican food.

 

[Dan-]

View attachment 354295

Use frequently for whole spices, and occasional home made Thai chili paste.

That’s the one I have too. I think it’s the 7” version here (https://importfood.com/products/thai-cookware/item/6-inch-thai-granite-mortar-and-pestle) but I don’t remember because it’s been so long. Use it ALL the time. Great for making aioli too.

 

[noj]

That’s the one I have too. I think it’s the 7” version here (https://importfood.com/products/thai-cookware/item/6-inch-thai-granite-mortar-and-pestle) but I don’t remember because it’s been so long. Use it ALL the time. Great for making aioli too.

Yes, that's where I got it. I forget the size, but might be the 8" size. I think the next size up was 25 lbs, which was too much for me.

 

[stringer]

 

[Beerzebub]

I use them a lot, a big granite Thai one like the ones above and a couple of smaller ones.

I used to have a Milton Brook ceramic one in the largest size, over a foot in diameter and something like five liters capacity if I remember right, it's awesome for larger things; I mainly used it for pesto and multi-jar batches of mustard.

One thing I would love to make sometime but never have is mofongo; would want a pretty big mortar for that.

 

[Beerzebub]

I really wanted to buy this behemoth that I saw recently, but resisted the temptation:

 

[DitmasPork]

Use them in my kitchen all the time—vinaigrette, grinding spice, etc.

 

[sumis]

yes. all the time. bigger ≈ better.
if it's not difficut to ove around its too small, and light.
the thai granite style can be a bargain.

.

 

[blokey]

I use one to crush spice, just different than a electric grinder

 

[MarcelNL]

I bought one like Michi did, yet I opted for the size 'too small for pretty much everything' so I usually take the stick blender and a bormioli jar out to make bumbu's etc.

 

[Noodle Soup]

My big granite Thai model gets used for curry paste a lot. I have a smaller ceramic model for dry spices.

 

[Rangen]

I used to have a smallish one. I never used it for anything except garlic-salt paste, because it did not work very well; it didn't make much impression on anything tough.

Now I have one of those giant Thai granite ones. I don't use it a lot, but it's absolutely essential when I do. Thai chili pastes. Coarse-cracked peppercorns, with more control over uniformity than a grinder or food processor gives.

 

[Gshep91]

I use a molcajete (Mexican version) all the time. I find it very useful for preparing sauces and rubs (dry and wet)

same. Also use it to cook dishes, heat it over a fire until it’s hot hot and throw in your protein (I usually do shrimp but have seen others) and let it go.

I don’t do it often and it’s usually along side my FIL but he does it almost weekly

 

[sousme]

I have a small granite one and a large Molcajete. Use them a lot for salsas (macha, salsa molcajete), aioli, vinaigrettes, spice grinding etc. Love them.

 

[DitmasPork]

On my want list is a Thai/Lao/Khmer kruk—saw these in a market in Hawaii.

 

[MarcelNL]

they don't seem to hold much volume ;-)

 

[DitmasPork]

they don't seem to hold much volume ;-)

The steep angle is ideal for bruising green papaya salad, making a couple of gallons of sambal, Indian pickle, etc.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

On my want list is a Thai/Lao/Khmer kruk—saw these in a market in Hawaii.
View attachment 354435

I considered carrying one for a month just so I could get it back home. We started in Thailand. And still had too
Many days of Vietnam and Cambodia to go. It wouldn’t have survived.

I see them occasionally at a local Thai grocery store.

 

[Dan-]

That’s funny…I tend to see them all over the place, usually at garden centers.

 

[DitmasPork]

I considered carrying one for a month just so I could get it back home. We started in Thailand. And still had too
Many days of Vietnam and Cambodia to go. It wouldn’t have survived.

I see them occasionally at a local Thai grocery store.

They're very inexpensive, if displeased with them, one could drill a hole in the bottom and use it as a pot for plants.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

They're very inexpensive, if displeased with them, one could drill a hole in the bottom and use it as a pot for plants.

We use one for green papaya salad every spring in Oklahoma. Camping. Yup a dude brings one to camp. Fun bashing the long beans and stuff.