molcajete

American  

[mohl-kuh-he-tey] / ˌmoʊl kəˈhɛ teɪ /

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of molcajete

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

Example Sentences

The music he made came from Mexico, and it came from Los Angeles, where 1940s Spanish-language swing tunes, Black doo-wop sounds and hillbilly guitar-plucking were mashed together in a molcajete y tejolote.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2025

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

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2023

Patience is required whenever you order a molcajete mixto, available at Taqueria Habanero’s new location in College Park.

From Washington Post • Feb. 25, 2019

Its accompaniments include fire-blackened scallions, jalapeño and nopales; roughly mashed salsa de molcajete made with fire-roasted tomato and red pepper; and a bowl of nondescript pinto beans.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2017

When I pass The kitchen, I pet the molcajete, The turtle-shaped stone That could snap Your tongue And make it wag Crowns of fire.

From "Neighborhood Odes" by Gary Soto