comal
I wouldn’t exactly call it a griddle- it’s round instead of square and I could use it to cook pancakes but I usually don’t. In my grandmother’s kitchen the cast-iron comal consecrated two dozen tortillas a day. In my kitchen it merely re-heats store-bought tortillas and blesses fresh tortilla dough only when Alex has the time to make it.
This piece of cast-iron cookware has a very special place in my kitchen (heart)- it never leaves its pedestal always atop its burner on my stove.
This piece of cookware will be an heirloom for generations if you care for it properly. Wash with hot water and scrub with salt if needed. Never use soap! Dry well immediately! Rub the cookware with lard and place in a 250 degree oven for 15 minutes, pour out any excess grease and place in the oven for 2 more hours. *Tip: Do not use vegetable oil as it will result in a sticky and unseasoned pan.
Hey! I have an oval cast iron fajita pan that just won’t work as well as the round one I have, no matter what I do. The round one is just like yours and the Indian name for it is tava (tuh-vah). What can I use instead of lard to re-season it?
It sounds like your tava may still have the factory coating on it. Scrub it off under hot water (no soap), then re-season it.
Our favorite way to season a cast iron is to cook with it! We use the lard that drips off a pork shoulder (skin on) or left-over bacon grease. If you’re looking for a veggie friendly way to re-season your tava, I’ve heard you can use vegetable shortening or olive oil. Be sure to let us know how it goes!
Also, CookingInCastIron.com is an exceptional resource filled with practical tips on the care and feeding of your cast iron equipment – check them out: http://www.cookingincastiron.com/files/20080707_video_podcast_01.html