Christmas is a time filled with scents and flavors that take us back to our most cherished childhood memories. The aroma of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, ginger, and cloves fills the kitchens and creates a magical atmosphere. If you are wondering whether it is worth it to buy a mortar inför julen i år är du på helt rätt spår. A av de äldsta och mest autentiska metoderna för att framhäva våra underbara julkryddor är just genom att använda en mortel. När det kommer till julkryddor finns det ingen bättre metod för att få ut det bästa av dess smak och doft.
Men What is a mortar actually, which material should one choose and what should one consider when one is going to mortar? We have the answers below! Don't miss our favorite recipe with the gold of Christmas: saffron!
Guide: What is a mortar & which mortar stone should you choose?
The mortar is a timeless kitchen tool for grinding spices and herbs that has been with us for millennia and is a constant companion for chefs and home cooks around the world. Its basic design consists of a bowl and a mortelstöt, and are often made of materials such as granite, marble, wood, or ceramic. When choosing a mortar to grind your Christmas spices, it is therefore important to consider which type of mortar best suits your needs, as the material gives a certain character to the spices being ground. Here is a quick guide to different mortar material:
Mortar in granite
A granite mortar is perfect for grinding hard spices and works excellently for example mortar cinnamon stick or mortar cardamom seeds. The material helps to preserve the natural oils and flavors of the spices and is incredibly popular due to its durability, weight, and the fact that it is easier to clean than, for example, marble. Buy your Dorre mortar i granite here!
Mortar in marble
A marble mortar is excellent for grinding softer spices like ginger and garlic. However, they are very good at absorbing flavors, so it is important to clean them thoroughly after each use to avoid previous spices and herbs affecting upcoming dishes.
Mortar in ceramic
Ceramic mortar is easy and simple to handle. They are particularly good for grinding herbs and spices such as basil and parsley because ceramic mortars ensure that the flavors and aromas are preserved in the best possible way. These mortars are non-porous, which means they do not absorb flavors, and are easy to clean.
Mortar in wood
En wooden mortar has a rustic charm and is good for grinding certain dried spices, nuts, and seeds, as well as delicate and fragile herbs. However, they are not optimal for harder ingredients, or spices that can stain the wood or leave a strong scent behind.
Obs! Don't forget to choose a suitable size for your mortar. A large mortar is of course best if you plan to grind large amounts of spices, while a small mortar is suitable if you only want to use it for small amounts and want a compact model that doesn't take up too much space.
How do you mortar?
When you are grinding spices, it is important not to just "grind" away. If you press too hard, the mortar can get scratched or the spices can jump out of the bowl. When grinding dry spices, use the pestle to press down on the spices with a rotating motion. This crushes the spices to an even consistency and releases their natural oils, resulting in a more intense flavor.
If you are going to grind fresh herbs, you should chop them roughly first. Then grind the herbs with slow and steady movements. Avoid grinding for too long, as they can become bitter with over-processing.
Saffron recipe: Flavorful & festive saffron slices
Now that you are an expert on mortars, you surely want a delicious and festive recipe where you can use this smart kitchen tool. A common question that many have around Christmas is: Should one grind saffron? And the answer to that is of course yes! Or at least if you want to enhance the flavor of your saffron. Grinding can really elevate your Christmas cooking and take your baking to new levels. One tip to get the most out of it is to grind saffron with sugar or a sugar cube to make it extra fine and maximize the flavors. Here comes our favorite recipe for really delicious, simple, and festive saffron slices!
Du behöver:
150g Butter
1g Saffron
1.5 dl Granulated sugar
5 dl Wheat flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tbsp Vanilla sugar
0.5 dl Light syrup
Gör såhär:
- Set the oven to 175 degrees.
- Mortar the saffron with a teaspoon of sugar.
- Melt some of the butter & mix in the saffron.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl & knead to a smooth dough.
- Split the dough into six pieces & roll into six lengths.
- Divide the lengths onto two baking sheets with parchment paper (three on each) & flatten.
- Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
- Cut the lengths on the diagonal into pieces while it is still warm.
- Let cool before serving.
- Ät & njut!