Earlier this summer, my mom called to tell me that the only kitchen gadget I truly need to own is a mortar and pestle. She explained that she’d heard this fact on a podcast, so it had to be true. I listened and nodded, chopping up some garlic for a spicy veggie stir-fry I was making. A couple of weeks ago, a package showed up in the mail for me. My mom had gone and bought me a granite mortar and pestle, intent on proving its usefulness. I took it out of the package, read the cleaning instructions, and put it on my bookshelf, where it looked quite elegant. “I guess it will be useful for making guacamole?” I thought.
I WAS A FOOL BACK THEN. Yes, my mortar and pestle is indeed great for making guacamole, but it is so much more than that. I can hardly believe I used to CHOP GARLIC. Chopping garlic probably took whole days off of my life. I put garlic in almost everything. The chopping never ended. But now, I don’t chop my garlic; I pound it in my mortar and pestle. And not only does it take way less time—and act as a bit of a stress reliever—I’m told by culinary experts that using a mortar and pestle to pulverize garlic is better for the overall flavor of your dish than chopping it is. I cook a lot of Indian food, and grinding spices and herbs for my curries has never been easier. There is a reason these things have been around since 35,000 B.C. They are useful as fuck.
Ever since incorporating my mortar and pestle into my daily cooking routine, I feel superior to everyone I know, and you too can feel like the king of your kitchen by getting your mortar and pestle on (the one I have was only $16.99 on Amazon). Food processors are for 21st-century chumps TBH. Go old-school and feel so much better than your technology-dependent friends.
1. Guacamole
2. Pesto
3. Thai Red Curry Paste
4. Masala Chai
5. Roasted Tomato-Jalapeño Salsa
6. Black Olive Tapenade With Garlic, Capers, and Anchovies
7. Caesar Salad
8. Hummus
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9. Aioli
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10. Taramasalata
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11. Taco Seasoning
12. Chimichurri
13. Spicy Garlic Salmon
14. Coriander Chutney
15. Red Chili Garlic Chutney
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16. Thai Green Papaya Salad
17. Chicken and Green Mango Salad
18. Mojo
19. Spice-Rubbed Fish Sliders
20. Grilled Oysters with Spiced Tequila Butter
21. Mojito
22. Clams with Black Bean Sauce, Bok Choy, and Noodles
23. Stir-Fried Chicken with Hot Basil
24. Hot Chocolate
25. Lemon Basil Panna Cotta
Been using mine for years. Highly recommend them. Much easier to clean than food processors too.
The only time I have used a mortar and pestle is in a college chemistry lab. They never have appealed to me for cooking because my instinct is that anything I associate with a chem lab would be horribly inappropriate for food preparation– ridiculous, I know. Thank you for convincing me otherwise!
Oooo, I don’t use my mortar and pestle near often enough. Time to start, methinks. :)
Recipes for the Recipe BOOK, Easy Clean Gadget for the GADGET DRAWER
*cough-cough* I love mortar and pestles so very much, possibly as much as chocolate.
OH and just in time for Babe-B-Q
If y’all have a marinade recipes that wants crushed garlic cloves.
MORTAR and PESTLE.
If you have a marinade recipe that doesn’t require crushed garlic cloves.
Consider CRUSHED GARLIC CLOVES.
Consider them.
A lot of the articles in this food column are compelling, but this one just went to the top of my list for things I will remember and look up and put into practice. I want to be a kitchen wizard with these recipes, yes.
Been utilizing mine for quite a long time. Very suggest them. Much less demanding to clean than nourishment processors as well.
catering equipment