Tools of the Trade

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:

• 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 a Indonesia - with a less porous lava stone (rather than a huge-grained lava stone ones from Mexico - the Diva finds the inexpensive Mexican ones too crumbly -- the stone constantly sheds rocks).  

A molecajete is traditionally passed down from generation to generation, improving with use and over the years - absorbing 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!