A Mexican mixing bowl, also known as a molcajete, is a vital tool in Mexican cuisine. It is used for grinding, crushing, and mixing ingredients to make salsas, guacamoles, and other staple Mexican dishes. The molcajete has a long history and remains an essential piece of kitchen equipment in Mexican homes and restaurants today.
What is a Molcajete?
A molcajete is a carved, bowl-shaped mortar made of volcanic rock. It traditionally consists of three legs and a pestle called a tejolote. The rough texture of the molcajete’s interior helps pulverize ingredients efficiently when the tejolote is used to grind and blend them against the stone bowl.
Molcajetes are hand carved from a single piece of vesicular basalt rock. This porous, lava rock variety has natural pits and depressions ideal for grinding and processing foods. The natural inconsistencies in the rock give each molcajete a unique, rustic appearance.
Traditionally, molcajetes are carved into a round bowl shape. They range in size from a few inches in diameter to over a foot across. Small molcajetes are used for individual servings, while larger ones can serve groups.
History and Origins
The molcajete’s history traces back over thousands of years to Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec civilizations. It was an essential ancient food preparation tool similar to the mortar and pestle found worldwide.
The molcajete’s Nahuatl name comes from the words mul (sauce) and caxitl (bowl). Its pestle, called a tejolote in Mexico, gets its name from the Nahuatl word texolotl meaning “stone”.
Early molcajetes were made from a volcanic rock called basalt. This allowed indigenous cooks to grind dried peppers, herbs, spices, and seeds into the first salsas and sauces of Mexican cuisine.
The molcajete created the unique textures and complex flavors that make authentic Mexican moles, pipians, and adobos stand out. It has continued to be the traditional way to prepare green tomatillo salsa, red salsa, guacamole, and other staple Mexican foods over centuries.
Molcajete Uses
The molcajete remains an essential tool in Mexican cooking today. Its unique properties give traditional home-style salsas and guacamoles superior flavor and texture compared to mechanical blenders.
To use a traditional molcajete, ingredients are placed in the bowl. The cook then grinds the foods against the textured stone surface using circular motions with the tejolote pestle. This pulverizes the ingredients while keeping their natural flavors intact.
Here are some of the most common uses for molcajetes in Mexican cuisine:
- Grinding spices, chiles, garlic, onions, herbs for salsas and moles
- Mashing avocados to make chunky, rustic guacamole
- Grinding roasted tomatillos, chiles, garlic, and spices into salsa verde
- Crushing seeds like pepitas and almonds as thickeners for pipian sauces
- Making authentic Mexican chocolate from cocoa beans, sugar, and spices
- Grinding and mixing meats for fillings in tacos, tamales, etc.
Molcajetes are also great for grinding and mixing remedies in traditional Mexican herbal medicine.
Types of Molcajetes
There are a few main types of molcajetes distinguished by their size, origin, and material:
Oaxaca Molcajete
- From Oaxaca, Mexico
- Carved from grey “piedra de moler” basalt
- Textured interior ideal for grinding
- Rustic natural appearance
- Available in small and large sizes
Veracruz Molcajete
- From Veracruz, Mexico
- Made from volcanic black basalt
- Smooth interior surface
- Polished external surface
- Large bowl size, 14″-18″ diameter
Tequila Molcajete
- From the city of Tequila in Jalisco
- Carved from volcanic blue basalt rock
- Natural rough interior texture
- Small, medium and large sizes
Electric Molcajete
- Modern electric version with motor
- Rotating stone bowl powered by electricity
- Pestle is manually moved
- Convenient, but less authentic result
Molcajete Alternatives
While traditional basalt stone molcajetes are ideal, some alternatives include:
- Granite molcajetes – Made from granite instead of basalt
- Lava rock molcajete – Molded from lava rock composite
- Marble molcajete – Carved from marble stone
- Ceramic molcajete – Shaped from ceramic material
However, the porous texture of real volcanic rock molcajetes remains best for performance and authenticity.
Selecting a Molcajete
Here are some tips for choosing a good quality molcajete:
- Check that it’s made from real volcanic basalt stone
- Make sure the bowl has a rough, porous interior texture
- Look for a wide, heavy base for stability
- Choose an appropriate size – 8″-12″ diameter for most needs
- Ensure the exterior is smoothly polished
- Select a pestle that fits comfortably in your hand
Avoid molcajetes with cracks, chips, thin walls, or a slick surface inside.
Seasoning and Caring for Your Molcajete
Before first use and occasionally thereafter, a new molcajete needs proper seasoning to achieve its maximum grinding performance.
Here is the traditional seasoning process:
- Wash the molcajete bowl and tejolote pestle with warm soapy water
- Rinse thoroughly and let dry completely
- Grind rock salt inside the bowl in circular motions
- Discard the salt and wipe clean
- Repeat grinding with more rock salt 2-3 times
- Rinse and dry once more before using
To care for your molcajete:
- Wash by hand promptly after use
- Use mild soap and warm water
- Dry thoroughly with a towel
- Avoid dishwashers and harsh detergents
- Protect from extreme temperatures
- Store in a safe, dry place
- Re-season occasionally with rock salt
With proper care and use, a molcajete can last for many years, or even generations!
Using a Molcajete
To use a molcajete properly:
- Select your ingredients
- Roughly chop produce into 1-2 inch pieces
- Add ingredients to the molcajete bowl
- Grip the pestle near the base, keep your wrist straight
- Grind in a circular motion, pressing down lightly
- Scrape down sides of bowl as needed
- Grind to your desired texture
- Add small amounts of liquid if needed
Avoid grinding with too much force or the molcajete may crack. Let it do the work for you!
Molcajete Recipes
Molcajetes are essential for making fantastic authentic salsas, guacamoles, and sauces. Here are just a few delicious recipes to try:
Salsa Verde
- 1 lb tomatillos – husked, rinsed
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, jalapeno in molcajete
- Grind until broken down but still chunky
- Add salt and grind briefly to dissolve
- Add cilantro and lime juice
- Grind just to combine
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired
Homemade Guacamole
- 3 ripe avocados
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno, seeded, minced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Scoop avocado flesh into molcajete bowl
- Roughly mash with tejolote pestle
- Add remaining ingredients
- Grind until just combined but still chunky
- Taste and add more seasoning if desired
Chimole Poblano
- 6 dried ancho chiles, seeded
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Salt to taste
- Toast chiles in hot skillet for 1 minute per side
- Add chiles, onion, garlic, spices to molcajete
- Grind until minced and paste-like
- Gradually add broth and grind until smooth
- Season to taste with salt
Use to sauce meats, eggs, potatoes, and more!
Where to Buy a Molcajete
You can purchase a molcajete at:
- Mexican markets
- Latin grocery stores
- Specialty cookware shops
- Online retailers like Amazon and eBay
- In Mexico from local artisans and markets
Prices range from about $15 for a small molcajete up to $50 or more for a large, elaborately carved one. Buying one on a trip to Mexico is ideal for an authentic handmade molcajete.
Molcajete vs Blender
| Molcajete | Blender | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Chunky, rustic texture | Smooth, uniform texture |
| Flavor | Full-bodied, robust flavor | Dulled, homogeneous flavor |
| Speed | Slower grinding | Very fast |
| Ease of Use | Takes practice and effort | Push button simple |
| Cleanup | Hand wash only | Dishwasher safe |
While blenders are much faster and easier, the molcajete creates salsa and guacamole with superior traditional taste and texture.
The Tradition Lives On
Molcajetes have been passed down for generations and continue to be ubiquitous in Mexican kitchens. Their unique stone material and rustic grinding method help create flavors and textures that just can’t be replicated by modern appliances.
Owning a molcajete allows you to craft authentic salsas and guacamoles with the classic stone-ground taste. With the proper care and techniques, a molcajete will provide many years of enjoyment honoring Mexico’s long culinary tradition.