Granite Pestle and Mortar or something else/electric?

[Mr Badger]

My main method of reducing ingredients to tiny bits/paste is to chop them up with a chef knife and if necessary stick them in the food processor. However, this doesn't really work for small quantities e.g. if I want to make a bit of fresh garlic and ginger paste or some curry paste to marinade a piece of chicken.

For some reason I don't seem to have ever owned or used a pestle and mortar. Is the solution and if so my Google results suggest that granite ones are the best. Is this the way?

Or should I be looking at some sort of small spice grinder or blender?

 

[Mr Badger]

Get a big one

I have a small and could do with a big one. Even if you are doing small quantities it's just at easier in a big one.




.....oh god the innuendos.......

A big one sounds like it will fill the need, but will it make my wrist get tired?

 

[Mr Badger]

OK, you guys have painted a graphic picture of what I need.

Can you just clarify whether you prefer to use any oil, or do you go in dry for the big pounding?