'That's the best sound in the kitchen,' Jamie Oliver tells me, as he bangs pine nuts into a paste using a mortar and pestle. If there's anything I learned in my three hours with him, it's that when it comes to cooking, the best things are simple, unpretentious, and easy.
Earlier this month, my outlook on kitchen appliances completely changed. I attended a one-of-a-kind experience hosted by Airbnb and Chef's Table with the legendary Chef Jamie Oliver at his TV studio for a masterclass in pasta-making.
The imaginative collaboration aims to bring culture to life through the art of food, and is a new iteration of Airbnb's 'Originals' experiences, which feature extraordinary experiences hosted by the world’s most inspiring people.
Jamie peppered bits of wisdom throughout the workshop, but perhaps the most interesting is that a mortar and pestle is his 'favorite thing in the world.'
Though we often assume essential kitchen tools must be expensive or technologically advanced to be worth buying, Jamie says this is not the case. Rather than opting for a blender or food processor, the chef swears by a 35,000-year-old method for making pesto (and many other recipes).
Jamie using the mortar and pestle to make everything
Jamie waxes poetic about the simple, manual food processor throughout the workshop. He states: 'No real cook hasn't got one of these. It's biblical.' As for choosing a mortar and pestle for your own home, Jamie argues that bigger is always better. He jokes: 'These little ones are a joke,' motioning to the small mortars and pestles throughout his workshop.
Shop Mortar and Pestles
If you don't cook much, but still want to crush up your spices and pesto the right way, this porcelain mortar and pestle is a great pick. It may be small, but it's mighty, and a great starter set for anyone beginning their chef's journey.
If you're in the market for something more industrial, this affordable but heavy duty granite mortar and pestle is a great option. The bamboo base is attractive enough that you'll want to leave it out, even when it's not in use.
Jamie Oliver doesn't believe in small mortar and pestles; if you don't either, then you just might be a match made in heaven with this granite set. The natural materials and shallow bowl are chic and user friendly.
Though you could also use one of the best blenders to make pesto, Jamie argues that the mortar and pestle creates a superior texture. After testing out his method in the workshop, I'm inclined to agree.
We each got our own batch of pesto ingredients and bowl of flour to try out his recipe, and I'm never making pesto another way again. In fact, I may or may not have already made it twice in the week since...
Everything you need to make the perfect pesto
In addition to the use of a mortar and pestle, the other thing that sets Jamie's pesto recipe apart is a secret ingredient: a bit of boiled potato. Ground in right at the end, the starchy root adds an extra creaminess and hearty texture.
'Most chef's don't know this,' Jamie tells us conspiratorially, over his food processor alternative.
If you're worried that mortar and pestle pesto will be too thick, Jamie has a solution for that too. He saved a bit of pasta water, and mixed it in to the pesto at the end to break it up. With the creamy potato, it made for an absolutely delicious, vibrant dish.
Jamie's ethos is that good food is for everyone, and the lessons from his workshop definitely made fresh, homemade food feel much more accessible. I, for one, have already added a mortar and pestle to my cart.
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