molcajete

[mohl-kuh-he-tey]

noun

Mexican Cooking.

1. a mortar and pestle set that is usually made of basalt or other roughly textured volcanic rock, and is used to grind and mix food.

Word History and Origins

Origin of molcajete¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl mōlcaxitl, mulcazitl, from mōlli “something ground,” also “gravy, sauce” ( guacamole, mole ⁶ ( def. ) ) + caxitl “bowl, cup, vessel”

Example Sentences

In the meantime, she will continue to sell her products at Molcajete Tienda in Montebello, Cafe Girasol in Boyle Heights, online and at various pop-up events, such as LatinaFest on March 19.

From Los Angeles Times

The woman's mother had buried her molcajete, metate, comal, and cazuelas in a hole in the ground and fled.

From Salon

The molcajete’s legs kept thumping against the table, making an ominous rhythmic sound.

From Literature

If you’re searching for a holiday gift that expresses artistry, utility and permanence — given its material, volcanic stone — there’s nothing quite like a molcajete from Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times

The exceptional guacamole, a version the owner learned at her father’s side, hums with garlic freshly pounded in a molcajete.

From Washington Post