Clay Comal

QUESTION: Can you tell me where to buy a clay comal? I bought one in Santa Fe several years ago, used it happily until my daughter-in-law put it on a very hot burner and it cracked.

ANSWER: Comales are large clay “platters” used typically to heat tortillas. I found one at www.gourmetsleuth.com but I’ve never tried it so let me know how it is. You can also find a good cast iron comal at www.melissaguerra.com.

To season a clay comal:  If you bought your comal in Oaxaca or another part of Mexico, you were probably sold a piece of cal, calcium hydroxide.  Break it up and add enough water to form a thick paste.  Slather it with a brush on the comal and heat the comal over low heat until the cal dries and cracks.  Brush it off and repeat the process two or three times,  Use your comal only for making tortillas.  If you use it to roast chiles, onions or tomatoes the toritillas will stick.

Calcium hydroxide is available at some pharmacies and places where they sell canning goods as pickling lime.

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