Molcajete
Molcajete
Molcajete
Molcajete
Molcajete
Molcajete
See the product in action
Molcajete

Ubiquitous in kitchens across Mexico, the Molcajete is a mortar and pestle made of fine-grained lava rock used for grinding spices and chiles, and preparing salsas, guacamole, and more. We partnered with artisan Don Enrique of San Salvador El Seco, Puebla, on a design that'll not only produce the ideal texture and consistency for our favorite dishes, but also look great displayed on the kitchen counter.

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Details+
· Outer diameter: 9”; inner diameter: 6.5”
· Height: 5.25”
· Weight: 20 lbs
· 3 cup capacity
· A Note on Variations: Due to the artisanal nature of every piece, there may be natural and unique variations and imperfections in basalt color and porosity. A true testament to nature itself, pieces of cooled lava (showing up as in quartz within each slab of basalt) may also appear. Enrique calls these pieces corazón de piedra (heart of the rock) and these surprise elements are considered especially prized within the cantero community.
Usage+
For best results, we recommend seasoning each molcajete before use. To season, add approximately 1/2 cup of uncooked white rice to the bowl. Using as much of the bowl’s surface area as possible, grind the rice into a rough powder. Empty the powder, rinse, and repeat the process until the resulting rice powder maintains its original color with no tint of gray.
Consider placing a towel under your molcajete during use, in order to prevent scratching of your table or countertop surface.
Review Highlights-

Great Craftsmanship

From the care taken with its packing and shipment to the wonderful size, shape, and quality of this handmade item, I am completely satisfied with this purchase. The first time curing process was fun and rewarding. Now I look forward to many years of use. My first food crafted item was an amazing guacamole. Loved it! Can’t wait to try salsas anRead more about review stating Great Craftsmanshipd other recipes/uses.

Thomas C.

It’s absolutely a beautiful piece

It’s absolutely a beautiful piece of art. I can’t stop looking at it! I grew up watching my grandmothers use one on a daily basis. I also saw them grind their own corn from their fields and make homemade corn tortillas every morning. Wonderful memories I’ll never forget.

Yolanda R.
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Supports Artisans

Great Gift

100% Made in Mexico

Rock of Ages

Artisans who work with stone are proud of their craft, and are called canteros. Don Enrique (center right), who comes from a lineage of canteros, has been making molcajetes since he was around 13 years old, and the over twenty years of experience have made him a master in his craft. It’s a fine art shaping a molcajete, there are a variety of tools one uses at each stage, and certain weight to be attributed to each. One wrong plunk, and the sculpted rock cracks. Don Enrique has given the the Masienda Molcajete a contemporary feel, with its sleek, rounded design and stocky legs, making for not only a chic kitchen companion, but also a more steady and sturdy one, too.

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"A Mexican powerhouse."

The New York Times

"Masienda's molcajete is the best we've found."

Serious Eats

Un Taco Sin Salsa No Es Taco

'A taco without salsa isn't a taco,' is how the saying goes — and we couldn't agree more. Salsas are the soul of Mexican cooking, an alchemical blend of ingredients that's always much greater than the sum of its parts. The salsas of Mexico are as diverse as its people, but there are a few recipes that are beloved and appreciated, like a good salsa roja known as salsa molcajeteada as it's ground in a molcajete.

Our Favorite Salsa Roja