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![Comal Comal](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126339056/115087559.jpg)
A cast-iron comal
Earthenware comals of various sizes
El Comal is committed to producing high quality, health conscious tortillas and related products with high nutritional value.
A comal is a smooth, flat griddle typically used in Mexico, Central and parts of South America to cook tortilla and arepas, toast spices and nuts, sear meat, and generally prepare food. Similar cookware is called a budare in South America. Some comals are concave and made of barro (clay). These are still made and used by the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America. Comals are similar to the American griddle or the Indian tava, and are often used and named interchangeably with these.
Comals for home use are generally made from heavy cast iron, and sized to fit over either one burner on the stovetop (round) or two burners front to back (elongated oval).[1] In many indigenous and pre-Hispanic cultures, the comal is handed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, the idea being that a comal tempered over many years of usage will heat faster and cook cleaner.
History[edit]
The history of such cooking methods dates back to the pre-Columbian era, when powdered-hominy tortillas were cooked on a comal over an open fire. Comales were also used to toast coffee and cacao beans. The word 'comal' comes from the AztecNahuatl word comalli.
Originally they were thin ceramic pieces, with slightly raised edges. They are found through the archaeology of Central America with the earliest examples dating to 700 BCE.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Chelsie Kenyon. Knack Mexican Cooking: A Step-by-Step Guide to Authentic Dishes Made Easy. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 12–. ISBN978-0-7627-6206-4.
- ^Paula E. Morton (15 October 2014). Tortillas: A Cultural History. UNM Press. p. 14. ISBN978-0-8263-5215-6.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comal_(cookware)&oldid=932706386'
As indicated, the cooking surface of the comal is about 9 inches. Additionally, there's a border at the edge which isn't a problem for smaller tortillas but this can be an issue when you're trying to make homemade flour tortillas as you're limited in surface space. Not only do you need that extra space for fitting the tortilla, but you also need it to fit your thumb or a utensil to flip it. Just something to keep in mind. Also, it has a very porous surface which slightly affects the appearance of the tortillas. Otherwise, it's been an effective product.
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