G’day folks.
A review of the mortar and pestle I ended up with was requested, and we’ve had it for a couple of weeks now so here it is. This is it, btw - https://www.kitchenwarehouse.com.au/product/gourmet-kitchen-granite-mortar-and-pestle-16cm
First impression - I was impressed by the size. This is a substantial unit. Of course the dimensions are on the website but I have a hard time visualising these things, and I’m used to things bought online showing up much smaller than my expectations. I didn’t have a banana but I took this pic with some regular items nearby for scale.
It came with seasoning instructions - grind half a cup of uncooked white rice, then some garlic, cumin, salt and pepper together. I did that bit. Grinding the rice made me glad I didn’t go for the wider, shallower one I was considering. Even with the deeper bowl quite a few grains escaped, but I don’t blame the bowl for that. Grinding up raw rice was a bit more work than I was expecting, but after a while I got into a groove and I discovered that the pestle is heavy enough I didn’t really need to apply much pressure, just swirl it around and it took care of business all on its own. Grinding the other things together was a lot easier and quicker and I had a garlic/cumin/salt/pepper paste in no time.
As for the most important test, the boss absolutely loves it, and her medicinal flower garden is terrified, though I think I might need to buy her a cauldron next! 🤣
Here she is grinding up some eggshells by the fire for the garden.
We’re very happy with the new addition to our kitchen. We have a ton of herbs growing as well as medicinal flowers and some plants like aloe vera and comfrey and the boss is very interested in making salves and what-not, so she loves playing with it.
Side note - I’ve been trying to find one of these in Australia for ages - https://www.etsy.com/au/market/kazan_afghan_pot
If anyone knows where I can get one in Australia (most of them ship from Afghanistan or Europe), especially somewhere with an online store, I’d be super appreciative!
Have a great weekend everyone!
3 Comments
StickyDango@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 92d
I wasn't one of the ones who requested a review or even saw any posts or comments about mortar and pestle, but thank you so much for the review. I smashed my one last year (might have been a Salvos buy), and was in the market for a new one... But there are so many out there that it overwhelmed me and decided I didn't need to have one straight away.
Currently using the wooden pestle in a drink mug to grind eggshells.. pathetically.
How much did you pay for your one? Looks like Kitchen Warehouse has a mid year sale atm for $45.
Honestly, I think a tub of butter is a much better scale than banana lol. I've seen some bananas and they're huge.
Interesting about the Kazan Afghan pot. Maybe you could go to an Afghani supermarket (there's a few dotted in Melbourne), or go in to an Afghani restaurant and ask them?
TheCriticalMember@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 92d
Yeah I paid the $44ish they're still showing now. I don't have much of a frame of reference but it seemed pretty reasonable to me.
Good call on the Afghan restaurants, will have to find out if there are any around here! We have an Afghan grocer and my wife asked there, they said they used to sell them but no longer do and recommended we try Sydney or Brisbane (we're about halfway between). I would just really like a super durable pressure cooker that I can use over the fire like that, and I've never seen anything else that looks like it fits the description as well as a Kazan.
StickyDango@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 92d
Yeah, I don't either because my one was a thrift. $44 seems reasonable if it is durable and does well what it claims to do well.
I've never seen one of these before, nor have I seen it used. I've been in to many restaurant kitchens, but never an Afghan one yet, so no chance of me seeing one in action. Good luck finding one, though!