Lesung batu or mortar and pestle is an ancient kitchen utensil. We call it ancient because not many people use this tool these days, especially since advanced technology has produced a fuss-free product named blender. The food processor has helped the living quality of many housewives and chefs for centuries.
But what makes some people still have this utensil in their kitchen is probably because of history. Older generations, like our grandparents and great-grandparents, used mortar and pestle. Technology wasn’t as developed before. This marbled tool was the only option they had to crush and grind ingredients.
Other than that, older generations used mortar and pestle to retain the texture of ingredients. They liked it if the onions or garlic still had a bite of crunchiness. Using a blender will blitz the ingredients finely. Maybe, it won’t taste as good.
We believe in Malaysia, at least one lesung batu is still lying around in the kitchen. Are we right, or are we right?
However, do you know that mortar and pestle are fragile? It needs to be maintained well so that it can be used for a long time. Don’t believe us? Check out this video.
Putera Purba (@zamypurba) is the founder of Sambal Nenek Purba. He uses mortar and pestle to make his signature sambal.
He bought a bigger lesung so that more sambals could be made. Therefore, his grandmother advised him to soak the mortar in water for at least 24 hours. But why? There’s no scientific explanation. Probably it’s to ensure the lesung‘s longevity.
Not only that, we learned that soaking it in water would make the lesung produce a better sound.
Afterwards, take shredded coconut and pound it in the mortar and pestle. You can grind it for as long as you want until there’s no sand-like texture on the lesung‘s surface. And voilà! Your lesung batu will last for possibly a generation to come!
Sources: TikTok Putera Purba, Netty Ah Hiyer