Pilón (mortero de madera)
The wooden mortar and pestle used to mash plantain, garlic and pork cracklings. It is the tool that defines mofongo, which is why many restaurants serve the dish inside the mortar itself. It is sold as a souvenir in craft markets and is one of the few kitchen keepsakes people actually use back home.
Example
When the server brings the mofongo inside the wooden mortar, that is the sign it was mashed to order.
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Related terms
Food
Mofongo
The signature dish of Puerto Rican cooking, made from fried green plantain mashed in a wooden mortar with garlic, oil...
Food
Trifongo
A mofongo variant that mashes three bases in the same mortar, normally green plantain, ripe plantain and cassava. It...
Crafts
Artesanía de higüera
Objects made from the dried fruit of the higüera tree, hollowed out and then carved or painted. It yields güiros,...
Food
Tostones
Green plantain slices fried once, flattened and fried again until crisp. They are the default side with almost any...
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying as a souvenir?
If you cook, yes. It is heavy, so decide before your carry on is full.
Is it only for mofongo?
No. It is also used to mash garlic for sofrito and for mojo, which are the base of most criollo cooking.
