Wooden Thai mortar and pestle. miss bossy / flickr / 2009 / CC BY 2.0
Like all mortars and pestles, a Thai Mortar and Pestle (“Saak” and “Krok”) is used to grind foods into a powder, and to make sauces.
Types of Thai mortars and pestles
There are two kinds, granite and clay.
The granite ones were first popularized in the West by Jamie Oliver. They are made of non-porous granite, and are very heavy and stable.
The other kind, such as those made in the northeast of Thailand, are tall ones, made of clay, with a wooden pestle, used for making dishes such as green papaya salad (“som tam.”)
Both range in width from 9 to 22 cm (6 to 9 inches.)
Capacity of various sizes of Thai mortars and pestles
| Approx. diameter | Approx. inner bowl width | Pestle length | Approx. weight | Approx. volume capacity | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 cm / 6 " | 11 ½ cm / 4 ½″ | 15 cm / 6″ | 3 ¼ kg / 7 lb | 250 ml / 1 cup / 8 oz | Grinding |
| 18 to 19 cm / 7 to 7.5″ | 12 ½ cm / 5″ | 18 cm / 7″ | 5 ½ to 7 ¼ kg / 12 to 16 lb | 500 ml / 2 cups / 16 oz | Grinding, pastes, sauces |
| 20 cm / 8" | 14 cm / 5 ½″ | 20 cm / 8" | 8 ¼ kg / 18 lb | 750 ml / 3 cups / 24 oz | Grinding, pastes, sauces |
| 23 cm / 9 " | 17 cm / 6 ½″ | 23 cm / 9 " | 11 kg / 24 lb | 1 ⅓ litres / 5 ½ cups / 44 oz | Grinding, pastes, sauces |
Cooking Tips
To clean, rinse with warm water and if you wish, unperfumed dish soap (though that’s hard to find.)
History Notes
Mortars and pestles were used in Thailand as early as the 1200s.
Language Notes
In Thai, a mortar is called “Krok”; “pestle” is called “Saak.” Thais refer to them in the opposite order we do, though: thus, pestle and mortar, or, “Saak” and “Krok”.
Stone Thai mortar and pestle. Jason Buffington / Pixabay.com / 2012 / CC0 1.0