What is Mexican molcajete?
“Molcajete” is the Spanish word for mortar and pestle. A molcajete can still be found in many Mexican households. It has been used to cook recipes passed down through the generations. Many people believe that salsa, guacamole, and other traditional Mexican foods taste better when prepared using this tool.
What do you use a molcajete for?
A molcajete is a large mortar and pestle made from volcanic stone used to prepare Mexican food, particularly salsas. Think of the molcajete as a Prehispanic blender or food processor.
What is mortar and pestle called traditionally in Mexican cuisine?
molcajete
A molcajete ([molkaˈxete]; Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl molcaxitl) and tejolote are stone tools, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle, similar to the South American batan, used for grinding various food products.
What is a real molcajete made of?
basalt
Although true molcajetes are made of basalt, imitations are sometimes made of a mixture of pressed concrete and volcanic rock particles. Molcajetes are also used as dish service in restaurants and homes.
What is an authentic molcajete made of?
BASALT
The ideal and arguably most authentic molcajete is typically made from VESICULAR BASALT which is usually more black in color, and very porous rock incorporating many sharp edged pits or cavities produced from escaping gas bubbles when the rock was naturally cooled.
How do you eat molcajete?
Carefully remove hot molcajete from oven with oven mitts. Arrange cactus paddles over the edge of the molcajete, place cheese slices, longaniza, shrimp, steak and onions in molcajete. Pour over warm salsa in molcajete. Serve with warm corn tortillas.
What can I use instead of molcajete?
A rolling pin This might seem like an unusual choice, but in some situations, it can work. It will work better for soft spices like garlic, ginger, turmeric, and chili. The best way to use a rolling pin would be to assemble the spices on a layer of plastic wrap or put it in a Ziploc bag.
What is the difference between a molcajete and a mortar and pestle?
A molcajete refers to a traditional Mexican tool used to grind food ingredients. On the other hand, a mortar and pestle is a kitchen tool used to grind and crush ingredients into powder or fine paste. It is narrower, has more depth and is round in shape makes it easy to twist and grind the ingredients.
Can you put a molcajete in the oven?
You can also heat your molcajete, and it heats rather well. It can be used for cooking this way. Heat it in the oven or over an open flame, or even over hot coals, and use as desired. Try cooking shrimp or seafood with your molcajete, or make some interesting soups.
What is a molcajete dish?
The Steak and Shrimp Molcajete may look like a complicated dish when really it is just well seasoned shrimp and steak, a tomato-based sauce and peppers served in a molcajete. A molcajete is the Mexican version of a mortar and pestle and is often used for grinding various food products. A molcajete can also be used as a warming vessel to serve food.
What is molcajete food?
A molcajete is a mortar, a rounded container which is designed to be used with a pestle to grind food ingredients. Molcajete is a Mexican Spanish word; it is typically paired with a tejolote, or “pestle.” A molcajete y tejolote is required for the production of a lot of traditional Mexican dishes,…
How is a molcajete made?
A traditional molcajete is made from basalt or lava. These rocks are very coarse and porous, allowing them to grind food and acquire a seasoning over the course of years of use. It is also possible to find mortar and pestle sets made with wood, marble, pottery, and other forms of stone; although not traditional,…