Here are the best mortar and pestle recipes you need to make! Ready to mash and pound your way to some of the tastiest dishes around? This collection of Thai and Lao food is just waiting for you to try.
This Thai food blog is filled with healthy Thai food recipes and easy Thai recipes that are perfect for every home cook. What you’ll love most about these recipes using mortar and pestle is how quick and simple to make they are.
In this collection, you’ll find some of my best vegetarian Thai salads, spicy Thai dipping sauces, and aromatic Thai curry pastes. Each one’s fun to make and has that lovely personal touch you only get at home.
Simple, homemade, and totally you – that’s what these Asian recipes are all about.
Now, let’s put the food processor away and keep it simple for some really delicious dishes.
And if you’d like some extra tips and tricks, don’t forget to read my full article on the Thai mortar and pestle.
This Lao salad is perfect for a quick and flavorful meal. It's a rice vermicelli salad with spicy flavors, fresh lime juice, and a delicious dressing. Spicy, refreshing, and ready in no more than 15 minutes!
Som tum Thai is a classic Thai green papaya salad with roasted peanuts and fresh flavors. It's the perfect recipe for those who have a clay mortar and pestle and want to try making something truly Thai at home. It's easy to mix up and so delicious!
Try some of the authentic flavors of Northern Thailand. This incredible ground pork chili and tomato paste is meaty, a bit spicy, and savory. It's perfect for dipping or spreading and can easily be customized to your taste.
This bean salad is one of my favorite mortar and pestle recipes. I like pairing it with some Thai chicken wings, Thai sticky rice, and a refreshing drink like Thai tea to counter the spicy flavors.
This salad is full of crunchy cucumbers dressed in a spicy and tangy sauce. It's refreshing and perfect for summer, making it the perfect light dish for a warm summer's day when you're in the mood for something quick and tasty.
I love making basil pesto with Thai basil. It's simple to make in a food processor, but using a mortar and pestle is even better. This pesto is really tasty and great on pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip. It's fast, easy, and so yummy you'll want to use it on all your food.
Jeow som is a spicy and tangy Lao dip that's perfect for grilled chicken and fresh vegetables. It has the perfect amount of spice and tang to complete your meal. It's a great addition to bring to your table to add a bit of Lao flavor to your meat.
Jeow mak len is an amazing tomato dip with chilies and cilantro. It's perfect for grilled foods and really tasty – you'll want to dip everything in it!
Thai corn salad is a yummy, easy-to-make healthy dish. It's got all the good stuff – sweet corn, tomatoes, beans, and you can even add your favorite ingredients to mix it up and make it yours.
Create your own Thai green curry paste using a stone mortar and pestle! Crafting the curry paste yourself is so rewarding, and my collection of Thai curry recipes is just perfect for making from scratch.
Skip the store-bought chili paste and make nam prik pao at home. This recipe for Thai chili paste is traditional and authentic. It's easier than you might think and way more delicious than anything you can buy.
Tam sua is a refreshing combination of spicy papaya salad and soft vermicelli noodles. It's a perfect mix of traditional flavors and makes for a great quick Thai meal.
Nam Jim Seafood Recipe (Thai Seafood Dipping Sauce)
Make the best spicy Thai seafood dipping sauce ever! Nam jim seafood is tangy, spicy, and awesome with grilled fish, squid, or any seafood. It's an easy mortar and pestle recipe that's perfect for beginners.
Nam Prik Kapi Recipe (Thai Shrimp Paste Dipping Sauce)
This is a special family recipe that's been loved for generations. It's a bit spicy and very tasty. Enjoy a real Thai meal with sticky rice, fish, fresh veggies, and whatever else you like, all with the amazing flavor of nam prik kapi, a Thai shrimp paste chili dip.
This nam prik noom recipe is a tasty vegan Thai dip made from roasted green chilies, garlic, shallots, and just a touch of salt. It's fun to make and creates a dip that's great with just about everything.
Tom yum paste is my most popular recipe, and it's a game-changer in the kitchen, bringing the classic spicy and sour flavors of Thailand right to your dinner table. This paste is a key ingredient in soups like tom yum talay and stir-fries like tom yum fried rice.
In Thailand, the mortar and pestle is the heart of the kitchen. Wander through any street food market, and you’ll hear that iconic pounding rhythm, the sound of delicious meals being made!
This collection of the best mortar and pestle recipes are all easy beginner-friendly dishes. Have you tried any of these recipes? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
Hi, I’m Praew! I was born in Isan, Northeastern Thailand, where I started helping my grandmother cook from a young age. When I was six, I moved to Belgium and later spent my years working in Thai takeout restaurants. I even ran my own Thai restaurant there! Now I'm back in Thailand, sharing everything I’ve learned over a lifetime of cooking Thai food on this blog!
