Mortars and Pestles

The mortar & pestle is one kitchen tool many chefs claim they could never do without. After all, there is nothing better than the burst of flavor that grinding cloves, peppercorn, cinnamon, and cumin can bring to your favorite recipes. Once you’ve noticed the difference in taste, there is no turning back!

Made from Agra marble, our mortar and pestle sets are perfect for every cook, from the newbie foodie to the more seasoned chef. What are mortar and pestles used for? This culinary tool is perfect for grinding spice seeds into a powder, pounding fresh herbs, and crushing nuts.

How to use your marble mortar pestle set

Add the whole spices and other ingredients and place them into the mortar. For evenly ground spices, don’t overfill the mortar. Keep it to about 1/3 full to get the consistency you want.

Hold the mortar in place with one hand and use the opposite hand to wrap your fingers tightly around the pestle. Using pressure and twisting your wrist, grind the spices against the sides and bottom of the mortar. Keep mixing and grinding the ingredients until they are at the consistency needed.

Grinding: Use your mortar and pestle to grind smaller spices to a coarse, medium, or fine consistency.

Pounding: Pounding or bashing is for larger spices, seeds, and nuts. To use this method, grab the mortar, slightly cupping your hand (or use a towel) over the top to catch any bits that want to jump out. Get a good grip on the pestle and use the wide end to pound the ingredients with swift, short movements.

Crushing:  Crushing garlic instead of cutting it releases the flavor and will turn it into a smooth paste that melds into any dish. You can also create unique flavored salts by crushing coarse salt together with dried herbs and spices.

If you want to experience the differences in the tastes and textures of the foods you prepare, replace the food processor or blender with a mortar and pestle. Favorites like pesto and guacamole never tasted so good. What’s more, the “old school” method will impress your family and guests.

To clean your white marble mortar and pestle sets, wipe them down after each use with warm water and dry them thoroughly. Use soap sparingly as any residue will leave a soapy taste in with your spices.

Tip: To remove stains or strong odors from your marble mortar pestle set, add some dry rice to the mortar and use the pestle to crush it into a fine grind. The finely ground rice will absorb odors and stains. Toss out the ground rice and repeat this process until the rice remains white and odorless. 

Whether you’re combining spices for a special dish or adding flavor to homemade soup, our mortar and pestle sets will take your cooking skills to the next level!