How to Use a Mortar and Pestle for Everyday Cooking

Quick answer

To use a mortar and pestle, start with dry ingredients like spices, using a pressing and twisting motion, then move to wet ingredients for pastes. The key is to apply even pressure and avoid overfilling.

Step-by-step: Using your mortar and pestle

1. 1. Start with dry ingredients: Add a small amount of dry spices, seeds, or herbs to the mortar—no more than one-third full. Use a gentle pressing motion with the pestle, twisting back and forth to break down the ingredients. Common mistake: overfilling, which makes grinding uneven and forces ingredients out. Work in batches for consistent texture.
2. 2. Grind in a circular motion: Once the initial crush is done, switch to a circular grinding motion, applying even pressure. This creates a finer, more uniform powder. For a coarse grind, stop early; for a fine powder, continue until no large pieces remain. Common mistake: pressing too hard, which can crack the bowl or cause the pestle to slip. Let the weight of the pestle do the work.
3. 3. Add wet ingredients last: If making a paste (like curry paste or pesto), add wet ingredients such as oil, garlic, or ginger after the dry ingredients are ground. Use a pounding motion to combine, then a final circular stir to emulsify. Common mistake: adding liquid too early, which turns the dry ingredients into a slurry that is hard to grind. Dry first, then wet.
4. 4. Scrape and repeat as needed: Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl between grinding rounds. This ensures even grinding and prevents unground bits from sticking. Common mistake: skipping the scrape, which leaves a coarse layer at the top while the bottom becomes powder. Scrape after every 10-15 seconds of grinding.
5. 5. Clean immediately after use: Rinse the mortar and pestle with warm water and a soft brush. Avoid soap on porous stone; for porcelain like the Ravelli Bowl, mild soap is fine. Dry thoroughly before storing. Common mistake: letting residues dry, which can stain or become difficult to remove. Clean while still damp for best results.

Product spotlight

• Ravelli Bowl + Pestle: This vintage bowl features a squared matte brown exterior with a glossy white interior with a curved lip to cradle a matching pestle. The curved lip keeps the pestle in place during grinding, while the glossy interior is easy to clean after spice work, though it may require more control for wet pastes.