Dorie Greenspan's Mortar-and-Pestle Guacamole
I like to think of myself as an early adopter: I had a computer when my friends were still pounding away on their typewriters; a modem when my friends were still excited about faxes; and an iPod the instant it was released. And, of course, I want my kitchen to be up-to-date, too. Food processor: Got it early. Microwave? Ditto. Super-duper ice cream maker? Of course. Pro espresso machine? Yup.
I love tools and equipment and gadgets and technology, and I love when they all come together in the kitchen, which is why I’m so annoyed at myself for waiting way too long to adopt a terrific, if very lo-tech, tool, the mortar and pestle. I was so in love with my food processor that I figured I didn’t need the ancient tool--but I was wrong. While I would never, ever give up my food processor -- it’s the perfect tool for making pie crusts and tart doughs, grating vegetables and making the smoothest chocolate pudding in creation--now that my mortar and pestle is close at hand, I find it’s my first choice for pounding, crushing and pulverizing jobs.
To fall in love with a mortar and pestle, you’ve got to have a big one. The small ones are fine when you’ve got a few peppercorns you want to crack, but when you’ve got real work to do, when you’re making pesto or a little herb puree, or you’re crushing a head of garlic or a handful of olives destined to become tapenade, you want to have room to move. You also want to have an inner surface that’s just rough enough to lightly grind the ingredients as you’re pressing against them. And you want to have some weight. You want the pestle to be hefty enough that it works more than you do; and you want the mortar to be heavy enough to stay put on the counter while you’re circling the bowl with the pestle.
The mortar and pestle I fell in love with is a 3-cup Thai stone mortar and pestle. It’s big, it’s heavy, it’s just a little rough, it’s easy to clean and it’s beautiful. In fact, it’s so beautiful that when I make guacamole in it, I serve it in the mortar and pestle. If you want to do the same, here’s the recipe for my house guacamole, one with tomatoes and peppers stirred into it for a little more color and texture.
Guacamole with Tomatoes and Bell Peppers
Makes 4 servings
1 lime
2 slices red onion, diced
1/2 jalapeno, or more to taste, finely diced
Leaves from 4 to 6 sprigs of cilantro
2 ripe Hass avocados, halved and pitted
About 6 grape tomatoes, quartered
About 1/4 red bell pepper, finely diced
Shredded cilantro
Salt, freshly ground pepper and hot sauce
Chips, of course
Grate the lime’s zest into the mortar. Toss in the onion, jalapeno, cilantro leaves and a good pinch of salt and go to work with the pestle, pressing on the ingredients and moving the pestle around in a circular motion. You’ll crush the cilantro, but only just bruise the onion and jalapeno, and that’s just fine. Spoon the avocado into the mortar, squeeze in all the juice from the lime, and use the pestle to break up the avocado and blend it with the other ingredients. You can leave the guacamole chunky or stir it until it’s smooth, the choice is yours. Taste for salt, pepper and hot sauce, then stir in the tomatoes, peppers and shredded cilantro. Serve the guacamole from the mortar with your favorite chips.
The guacamole is at its best freshly made, but if you have to hold it for a little while, press a piece of plastic wrap directly against the surface to create an airtight cover and keep it in the refrigerator.
Photos by Alan Richardson
Check out Dorie’s favorite kitchen products in the Kitchen & Home Gift Guide.
avinandan on November 16, 2008 at 08:14 PM
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Melisa on November 16, 2008 at 10:16 PM
The guacamole is delicious... and it is better if you prove it with a good taco!
Melisa Boza
http://melisaboza.blogspot.com/
Sean Boren on November 17, 2008 at 06:49 AM
You can get this mortar and pestle for cheaper then Amazon and the stone quality is excellent here: http://www.templeofthai.com/mortar_and_pestle/mortar_pestle.php
Joey on November 18, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Actually, Temple of Thai is more expensive than the same one's you can get on Amazon, and you do not get the Amazon guarantee and quick shipping if you buy elsewhere.
http://www.amazon.com/s/sr=41-36/qid=1227020858/ref=sr_in_-2_p_4_35?ie=UTF8&rs=1055398&keywords=mortar%20and%20pestle&field-brandtextbin=Pacific%20Rim%20Gourmet&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amortar%20and%20pestle%2Ci%3Agarden%2Cn%3A1055398%2Cp%5F4%3APacific%20Rim%20Gourmet&page=1
Sean Boren on December 03, 2008 at 08:00 PM
I see now that you can get this mortar and pestle from Temple of Thai at Amazon also.
Bronty on December 03, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Hey I just checked out both Amazon and Temple of Thai and actually Temple of Thai's 7" mortar pestle is a few dollars cheaper including with UPS ground charges to my sister's address in Chicago! Most internet merchants offer a return policy now a days, so I do not think that amazon's is anything special and a deciding factor!
Country Dan on December 06, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Hey it's obvious Bronty and Sean Boren are the same person, both SPAMMERS.
Country Spam on February 20, 2010 at 09:15 PM
Ha, ha - it's obvious to me 'Country Dan' works for Amazon. My husband worked for said company for several years and knows all about the 'blog police' employed to protect Amazon's business. Just thought I'd say that - I have no opinion either way on the product mentioned here.
kamagra on April 27, 2010 at 07:08 PM
I'm really truly love guacamole. Is one of the best things I've ever eat.
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