Molcajete… It Only Gets Better!

A molcajete is a stone tool, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle used for grinding various food.  The molcajete was used by pre-Hispanic cultures including the Aztec and Mayans, going back several thousand years. The term molcajete refers to the three-legged round bowl, which has been carved out of basalt. The pestle, which is known as the tejolote, has also been carved out of the same volcanic rock. In the thousands of years this ancient tool has been used, there have not been any changes to the core shape of this timeless design. Because it’s a squatty vessel with legs, molcajetes are sometimes carved into animals shapes such as a bull or a pig.
In other words we can think of it as a pre-hispanic blender or food processor. It is an integral part of any Mexican kithchen. They need to be broken in and seasoned when it is first used. A simple way to do the initial seasoning is to grind uncooked white rice in the molcajete, a handful at a time, when there are no visible grains of basalt in it, it is ready to use.
A molcajete is an extremely durable piece of cookware, so durable, in fact, that in Mexico people pass down their well-loved molcajetes to the next generation, just as Southerners pass down cast-iron cookware to their children and grandchildren. And this is the key: a molcajete only gets better with use, as it absorbs flavors and reflects these back into whatever you’re currently making. A well-seasoned molcajete also is smooth and is no longer in danger of shedding lava-rock grit into your food.
They are used to crush and grind spices and to prepare salsas and guacamole and can also be used as a cooking tool where it is heated to high temperatures in an open fire or coals. In restaurants and homes they are used as a dish service. Molcajetes stays hot for a very long time due to its high thermal mass.
If you’re craving some delicious molcajete please join us at Las Originales for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  We are located at 23630 Newhall Avenue in Newhall.  Please call 661-259-0884 an visit our website at: www.toraslasoriginales.com.  Like us on FaceBook at Tortas Originales.  See our Ad for specials.