Crush
Texture
Building structure mechanically.
01At a glance
CategoryTexture
Taste impactNeutral
Texture—
02How to do it
- 1Place the ingredient (garlic, spices, nuts) on a board or in a mortar.
- 2Apply firm pressure with the flat of a knife, a pestle, or a rolling pin.
- 3Crush to the coarseness the dish wants — cracked to paste.
- 4Scrape it together and use.
03Doneness & pitfalls
Doneness cues
- The pieces are broken to the intended coarseness and release their aroma.
Common mistakes
- Over-crushing to paste when you wanted texture.
- Whole spices fly off the board — start gently.
- Crushing ahead lets the aromas fade.