If you like to make a really authentic guacamole, use an ancient stone bowl with it's own grinding stone. This is called a "molecajete" or "sauce maker" in Spanish. ("Mole" mean's sauce.)
My favorite recipe can be found here:Molecajete Guacamole.
Here are instructions to prep your molecajete for first time use:
- Soak the molecajete in warm water for a few hours (fill up your sink and let it sit in the water, NO SOAP!).
- Dry it out carefully with a dish towel or paper towels - try to clear out any "sand" or rocks.
- Take a small handful of rice and grind it into the molecajete until the rice turns into a grey power.
- Repeat this step until the rice stays white when you grind it.
- Your ancient tool is now ready to use!
To maintain your molecajete:
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- Rinse your molecajete after each use and scrub with a brush - but DO NOT use soap. Soap will dry it out AND also be absorbed into the stone resulting in bubbles and an awful taste.
- Make sure your molecajete is dried out before storage. (E.g. - leave it upside down on the counter, on a dish towel over night).
- To sanitize it - you can either leave out in the sun once in a while to bake (on a hot summer day!) or put it in a 350 degree (F) oven for 20 minutes.
The Avocado Diva sells a great medium sized molecajete set we obtain them from Indonesia. The Indonesian ones have are made of a less porous lava stone rather than the huge-grained lava stone ones from Mexico. The Diva finds the inexpensive Mexican ones too crumbly, as the stone constantly sheds rocks.
A molecajete is traditionally passed down from generation to generation, improving with use and over the years as it absorbs flavors and spices. Buy one to pass along to your favorite little avocado gobbler! Also makes a great, unique gift for that person who has everything!