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Eater
11 hours ago
- General
- Eater
How to Cook With Planchas and Comals
Peer inside a Latin American kitchen, and you will most likely find some kind of flat top on the stove, stoic and ready for fire. Whether they were passed down for generations, thrifted, or purchased locally, the comal and plancha have long been essential culinary tools for home cooks and professional chefs alike. These flat tops perform similarly, and at times, interchangeably: Both are good for toasting bread or tortillas, making quesadillas, or charring vegetables. Yet they also have their own unique uses and places in the kitchen. For advice about which one to use, and when, we turned to chefs and home cooks. What is a comal? The comal is a round nonstick flat griddle meant to withstand years and years of fire. It toasts, chars, roasts, and sautees — making it perfect for everyday use. The comal is so prized and ancient that it is said to mark the start of civilization itself. The oldest records of the comal in Mexico date back to the sixth century, with remains found in Oaxaca. Comales made with barro or clay, their originary material, are still in use today, though now comales are also made with carbon steel, blue steel, and cast iron. The comal's name derives from the Nahuatl word comalli, and is said to have originated in tandem with the birth of tortillas. In Mayan cultures it was known as xamach, and was set over flaming rocks. In Puerto Rico, the Taíno people had their own clay-made comal called burén, which was set directly over fire-stoked logs, like the comal of the Americas. Today, there's a festival dedicated to the burén in the coastal town of Loíza. In Venezuela, the same cooking tool is known as the budare, and is essential to making arepas. Cooking on a circular, flat surface isn't exclusive to Latin America, however. In South Asian countries, from India to Pakistan and Bangladesh, there is the tawa, which is used to cook meats and a variety of flatbreads. In Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon and Palestine, it's known as the saj, but is convex and dome-shaped. In North African countries like Sudan, it sits on embers and is known as doka. What is a plancha? The plancha, or flat top griddle, is typically larger than the average comal, and rectangular in shape. It's known for its size and power. The word 'plancha' translates to cooking plate in Spanish, and 'griddle' comes from the Anglo-French 'gridil,' which comes from the French 'graille,' meaning grill. The griddle's origins can be traced back to 104 CE in Ancient Rome. Today, there are gas powered griddles for indoor and outdoor use, and some have even been built into cooktops. They typically take up two burners and, like the comal, are designed to be nonstick. According to Larousse Cocina, planchas were originally set over flaming coals to cook vegetables and meats quickly at high temperatures. It's common in Latin America to find dishes prepared this way, or 'a la plancha.' For Danel Fernanda de Romero, a culinary school-trained home cook and mom of six, the plancha is her biggest ally in getting warm meals ready quickly for hungry bellies. 'The plancha that I use is about 60 pounds, so you bet it stays on my range 24/7,' de Romero says. How to use a comal The size of the comal can vary, from six to 22 inches. Typically, the home comal will be on the smaller side, taking up a single burner. This allows for faster heating times, and thus quicker meals and snacks. Mexican American chef Emmanuel Galvan uses the comal for heating foods more gently. 'It's for when you don't need intense heat and are cooking a smaller item — an everyday thing,' he says. De Romero uses her cast-iron comal to make her husband's breakfast and lunch for work. '[The comal] is a modest size,' she explains. 'That way I don't have to turn on the whole range and heat up the plancha.' Breakfast and lunch normally include Mexican delicacies like sopitas con huevo (fried tortilla stir-fried with scrambled eggs), eggs with roasted diced nopales, a hearty steak and eggs, or a lighter toad-in-the-hole. To char vegetables for salsa, go from medium to high heat, depending on the desired results. Medium heat will allow flavors to render more slowly, and heat food more thoroughly. This works well for slow roasting tomatoes, sautéing mushrooms, cooking quesadillas, toasting dried chiles, and reheating tamales. For quick everyday dishes, like tacos or quesadillas, you can use a comal to reheat your tortillas at medium-high heat. Once the comal is hot, it is also great for cooking masa shapes like tetelas and tlacoyos, making fresh tortillas, and more. For this, a well-seasoned comal is best. However, a small dab of oil wiped on the surface with a paper towel will certainly help keep the fresh masa from sticking. High heat will provide a smoky profile, and can be used for fast and hot applications like turning tortillas into volcánes (the non-fried cousin of the tostada). To clean the comal, wash it under warm running water and use mild soap to remove any stuck food. Dry and season with oil. How to use a plancha Mercedes Golip, a Venezuelan food creative and maíz expert, says that the plancha was essential for her mom in making arepas and cooking meats and vegetables with minimal oil without compromising on flavor. 'For her, it was the most practical way to cook because she could make multiple things at once on the same surface, and everything cooked quickly,' Golip says. 'Foods cooked on a plancha develop deep, complex flavors in no time and with minimal seasoning, thanks to the caramelization process,' she explains. 'It allows you to create dishes with rich, layered flavors using simple ingredients.' Because of this, the plancha is perfect for experimenting with a host of marinades and seasonings. De Romero uses her plancha for family meals from breakfast to dinner. 'It takes up more than half of my 30-inch range, so I can make 10 eggs all at once, or pancakes [and] tortillas. I can also sear meats and grill veggies.' Galvan uses a 36-inch cast-iron plancha for his masa-centric pop-up in the Bay Area, Bolita. 'We use it for everything, to char vegetables, cook mushrooms, caramelize onions, for all masa applications,' Galvan says. 'Without the plancha we couldn't make the type of food we do. It's super crucial to the way we built our business.' It's also super easy to use: All you need to do is bring the plancha up to the desired temperature, and scramble, saute, grill, toast, or sear away. To clean a plancha, Golip recommends waiting for it to cool and then washing it with mild soap and a brush before drying it over a flame to prevent rust. De Romero cleans hers by pouring water over it and scraping off any stuck bits, then oiling the surface with a rag. Do this after every use. When to use a comal versus a plancha Although comales and planchas are very similar, there are distinct benefits to using one over the other. Consider the plancha your workhorse for bigger projects. Whether you're cooking for a dinner party or making a hearty spread for a family gathering, the plancha is perfect for a larger setting thanks to its size. From eggs and pancakes to burgers, hot dogs, seafood, fried rice, and all the masa shapes, the a la plancha options are endless. The best part is that you can cook multiple components of a meal all at once. Comales are perfect for smaller portions and reheating. Use them when you've got salsa or quesadillas in mind, want to cook a small batch of fresh masa shapes, warm up a tortilla, or toast bread. Though the plancha begets bigger meals, and the comal is more intimate, they both hold a dear and lasting place in the Latin American home kitchen. Having stood the long test of time, they are both simply much too practical and culturally rooted to ever be replaced by any shiny new gadget for the chef and home cook. Highlighting the people, products, and trends inspiring how we cook now
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
I fell hard for 'The Jewel' — a Caribbean gem off the main tourist trail
Leaving London, the weather couldn't decide between drizzle and all-out downpour. I wasn't just after sunshine. I wanted a place where 'productivity' meant remembering to reapply sunscreen before noon. Belize was exactly that. Not the Caribbean of infinity pools and stiff cocktails, but somewhere refreshingly real. Beaches with more driftwood than Instagrammers, bartenders who double as turtle-spotting experts, and a vibe so laid-back that a major public announcement is 'The snorkel boat leaves at 9… or maybe 10.' It might be known as 'The Jewel', a nickname that reflects its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but Belize is not on the main Caribbean tourist trail just yet. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. That path is currently populated by Barbados, St Lucia and Anguilla, but the Central American country has seen an increase in tourists in recent years. In 2024, it clocked a record-breaking 562,405 overnight visitors. In January, prestigious travel association ABTA named Belize as a destination to watch for 2025, citing its lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins as major drawcards for responsible adventurers. Landing on Belizean soil, I made my way to the Tropic Air Dangriga flight, which would take me on a breathtaking journey from Belize City to Dangriga in 20 minutes. Through scratched plexiglass windows, the reef emerges below like a jagged turquoise line against deeper blue, the coastline veined with mangrove channels. The 12-seat Cessna Caravan is not for the faint-hearted — it's a tiny capsule in which you can hear every word of the pilot, without a Tannoy system. A one-way ticket costs about £83. At the tiny airstrip – a concrete slab flanked by palm trees – I arrive alive, and a short drive takes me to The Lodge at Jaguar Reef. This hotel is essentially a collection of beachfront suites, complete with private plunge pools and a deck just steps from the ocean. The vibe is barefoot luxury: local wood, open-plan design, and a sea breeze drifting through windows. Rooms here range from approximately £189 to £334 per night, depending on the season and room type. Hopkins village moves at the pace of bicycle traffic and the occasional golf cart. I am guided by Get to Know Belize Adventures and as we drive around in our golf buggy, I'm struck by how peaceful this place is. More surprising is pulling up to the community square and seeing police officers repainting benches for the community. 'It needs a sprucing up,' one tells me. 'So here we are.' Nearby, I find a small bakery where I try fried jack, a buttery, fluffy pastry that's a Belizean staple, served by the smiling owner, her hands dusted in flour. The Garifuna people, descendants of West African, Carib, and Arawak ancestors, are central to Hopkins' culture. Exiled from St. Vincent in the 18th century, they settled along Belize's coast, maintaining their unique language, music, and traditions. My immersion begins with cooking hudut , a traditional fish and coconut stew, in an outdoor kitchen. My guide's wife shows me how to grate fresh coconut for the rich broth, then demonstrates the art of cracking one open with a machete. We pound plantains in a giant wooden mortar as the fish simmers away with coconut milk, garlic, onions, and habanero peppers. Eating it together at a long, rough-hewn table, the hudut's creamy broth balances the earthy mashed plantains perfectly. After lunch, a drumming lesson shifts to the beach. Local musicians teach me the basic rhythms of the primero and segunda drums. At first, I struggle to find the beat, but soon the sound of the waves and the music blur together. By sunset, I'm dancing barefoot in the sand, badly but blissfully. Later, we head out for a bioluminescence tour of Anderson Lagoon, and I'm told to expect magic. A mixture of excited and cynical, we sail through a tiny cut to get to the lagoon and find ourselves surrounded by giant mangroves. It's pitch black, the guide's flashlight beam cutting across the lagoon is the only light — then he turns it off. The boat picks up speed and the wake glows. Blue streams of light surrounds us from the water. As the boat pick upspeed, the tiny algae, which settle in the lagoon during the dry season, get agitated and glow, which for a bioluminescent newbie like me is mind-blowing. After a short boat ride through narrow mangrove channels, the captain kills the engine. In the dark stillness, every movement in the water sparks blue light — tiny bursts of, yes, living magic. Swimming through it feels like gliding through liquid stars, my arms trailing glowing comet tails. Tours cost approximately £56 per person. The next day's adventure feels a bit like driving through a film set. Winding along roads lined with orange groves and passing through the dreamlike Bamboo Cathedral – a natural tunnel of towering bamboo – is an experience in itself. As if the ride isn't dreamy enough, the road to the waterfall winds along the side of the mountain, with tall trees reaching above you and creating much-needed shade. We reach Maya King Waterfall, (entry £8 per person) in the Maya Mountains of the South East Coast. The two cascading falls are at their most dramatic during rainy season, crashing down into clear pools below. I could have spent hours here, soaking up the vibe, the only sound the rushing water echoing around us. In the charming village of Placencia, the footpath winds between brightly painted shops and beach bars. The Creole beach town is proud of its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, where it's recognised for having the narrowest main street in the world. It's actually a 4,000-foot long footpath that is just four feet wide. A stroll along the pedestrian 'street' takes you past quaint rows of local artists' stalls, eclectic shops and cheekily-named beach bars. The village has managed to retain its boho vibe, despite a recent influx of wealthy American and Canadian retirees. Film director Francis Ford Coppola even opened a hotel here, the eco-friendly Turtle Inn. It's hard not to fall for the pace: no rush, no pressure, just friendly locals, lilting music, and the salty scent of the sea. My favourite perch is Tutti Frutti ice cream parlour, which serves delicious flavours like sour sop, a creamy local fruit beloved across the Caribbean that's usually made into a refreshing drink. After indulging in Placencia, a short Tropic Air hop (£75 one-way) takes me to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. San Pedro is giving Wes Anderson: pastel-coloured wooden buildings, narrow sandy streets, and golf carts buzzing around as the main form of transport. In fact, my 'taxi' from the mini-airport to Ramon's Village Resort is a golf buggy (golf cart rentals cost about £7 per hour), although you could easily walk it if you wanted. Ramon's Village feels like stepping back in time, in the best way. Thatched-roof cabanas, lush tropical gardens, hammocks swinging in the breeze. Everything here is designed to help you unplug. Room rates vary by season and type, ranging from £135 to £360. Reggae music floats from bars and beach shacks all over town, a nod to Belize's cultural ties to Jamaica (both were once British colonies). It shows up in the food too: comforting dishes like stew chicken, rice and kidney beans, fried jacks (similar to Jamaican fried dumplings), and sweet plantain accompany almost every meal. Familiar, yet quintessentially Belizean. That evening, I join the Belize Food Tour, which turns out to be one of the best ways to experience San Pedro's spirit. Walking between stops with a chatty group of fellow travellers and locals, we try everything from fresh conch ceviche to grilled lobster, tamales wrapped in banana leaves, and rich coconut pies. Along the way, we get snippets of history, gossip, and restaurant secrets—it's less like a formal tour and more like wandering town with new friends who know all the best bites. Approximately £57 per person. The next morning, it's time for the ultimate snorkelling trip to Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Also known as 'Little Channel', it has impossibly clear waters and coral gardens teeming with life. Swimming alongside rays and nurse sharks is thrilling for some, but full disclosure, it's not for me. While hanging on to the side of the boat, I do manage to capture a semblance of magic as I duck my head in. A kaleidoscope of fish glide past me; if you're into that sort of thing, this place is a veritable underwater theme park. Before leaving Belize, there's one final bucket-list moment: a scenic flyover of the iconic Great Blue Hole. More Trending From the air, the vast circular sinkhole looks surreal: deep, endless blue surrounded by the lighter turquoise of the reef. You might even spot dolphins or manatees swimming below if you're lucky. It's humbling and breathtaking all at once. Scenic flights cost £200 per person, or, if you prefer to get up close and personal, sea tours typically cost around £100, including snorkel gear and guide. It sounds trite, but each new day in Belize brings new adventure and fresh perspective. It's the kind of place that reminds you to slow down… and eat everything. I've fallen for Belize and the love feels reciprocated. What more could you want? There are no direct flights from the UK to Belize. Travelling in the first week of June, the cheapest option is flying with United Airlines from London Heathrow, with stops in New York and Houston. Return fares start from £651, and the journey takes just over 24 hours. British Airways also flies from London Heathrow, with one stop in Miami. Prices start from £837 for the same week. Do I need a visa? UK passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Belize. You can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. MORE: I swapped my sun holiday for a train trip to Europe's rainiest city — with highs of 8°C MORE: I searched for grizzly bears in a Canadian region tourists often miss MORE: I thought British holidays were boring, but this underrated island changed my mind
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Kuwait Times
Remains of Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old unearthed in Guatemala
Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old in northern Guatemala, with pyramids and monuments that point to its significance as an important ceremonial site, the Central American country's culture ministry said Thursday. The Mayan civilization arose around 2000 BC, reaching its height between 400 and 900 AD in what is present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The city named 'Los Abuelos,' Spanish for 'The Grandparents,' once stood some 21 kilometers (13 miles) from the important archaeological site of Uaxactun, in Guatemala's northern Peten department, the ministry said in a statement. It is dated to what is known as the 'Middle Preclassic' period from about 800 to 500 BC, and is believed to have been 'one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centers' of the Mayan civilization in the jungle area of Peten near the Mexican border, it added. 'The site presents remarkable architectural planning' with pyramids and monuments 'sculpted with unique iconography from the region,' said the ministry. The city takes its name from two human-like sculptures of an 'ancestral couple' found at the site. The figures, dated to between 500 and 300 BC, 'could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship,' said the ministry. This undated handout picture shows a pot discovered at the Uaxactun archeological site. 'Unique canal system' The city, which covers an area of about 16 square kilometers (six square miles) was discovered by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously little-explored areas of the Uaxactun park. Nearby, they also found a pyramid standing 33 meters (108 feet) high with murals from the Preclassic period and 'a unique canal system,' according to the statement. 'The set of these three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle... These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization of pre-Hispanic Peten,' said the ministry. In April, scientists discovered a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's ancient Teotihuacan culture at Tikal, elsewhere in the Peten department. That find was interpreted as proof of ties between the two pre-Hispanic cultures, which lived about 1,300 km apart. Tikal, about 23 km from Uaxcatun, is the main archaeological site in Guatemala and one of its biggest tourist attractions. — AFP
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Archaeologists discover 3,000-year-old LOST CITY featuring ‘remarkable' pyramids and canals
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ANCIENT Mayan city has been discovered by archaeologists in northern Guatemala, offering fresh insights into the historic civilisation. The nearly 3,000-year-old remains include remarkable pyramids and monuments that appear to be "sculpted with unique iconography". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Two anthropomorphic sculptures of human form or appearance that 'represent an ancestral couple' Credit: AFP 6 The archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Tikal National Park, Guatemala Credit: Alamy 6 Temple I in the main plaza of Maya Archaeological Site of Tikal, Tikal National Park Credit: Getty 6 The city is likely to have been "one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres" of Mayan civilisation Credit: AFP This ancient city, named Los Abuelos - the Spanish for "The Grandparents" - once stood around 21km from the significant archaeological site of Uaxactún, Guatemala's culture ministry said on Thursday. Los Abuelos gets its name from two human-like sculptures of an "ancestral couple" found there. These figures "could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship", the ministry added. The city is likely to have been "one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres" of Mayan civilisation. Monuments unearthed at the site have been dated to the Middle Preclassic period of 800-500 BC, while the city itself "presents remarkable architectural planning". The city covers an area of around six square miles and is found in Guatemala's northern Petén department. Researchers also found a 108 foot high pyramid nearby that had Preclassic murals and "a unique canal system". "Archaeological investigations have included the active participation of Guatemalan and international professionals, with the support of the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia," a ministry spokesperson said. "This joint effort has allowed significant advancements in the exploration, conservation, and dissemination of the Mayan legacy." Three sites - Los Abuelos, Petnal and Cambraya - were unearthed through the country's ongoing Uaxactún Regional Archaeological Project. Rediscovering the Lost Maya City of Ocomtún (1) "These sites form a previously unknown urban triangle," a ministry spokesperson added. "These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organisation of pre-Hispanic Peten." Mayan civilisation rose around 2000 BC and reached its peak between 400 and 900 AD. It spanned across present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, along with some parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The amazing new discovery comes after a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's ancient Teotihuacán culture was unearthed in April. It was painted with a mural of red, yellow, and blue - which are colours associated with that culture. This find was seen as suggesting evidence of possible contact between the two cultures. 6 The Pyramid at Calakmul, Mexico Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Archaeologists discover 3,000-year-old LOST CITY featuring ‘remarkable' pyramids and canals
AN ANCIENT Mayan city has been discovered by archaeologists in northern Guatemala, offering fresh insights into the historic civilisation. The nearly 3,000-year-old remains include remarkable pyramids and monuments that appear to be "sculpted with unique iconography". 6 Two anthropomorphic sculptures of human form or appearance that 'represent an ancestral couple' Credit: AFP 6 The archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Tikal National Park, Guatemala Credit: Alamy 6 Temple I in the main plaza of Maya Archaeological Site of Tikal, Tikal National Park Credit: Getty 6 The city is likely to have been "one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres" of Mayan civilisation Credit: AFP This ancient city, named Los Abuelos - the Spanish for "The Grandparents" - once stood around 21km from the significant archaeological site of Uaxactún, Guatemala's culture ministry said on Thursday. Los Abuelos gets its name from two human-like sculptures of an "ancestral couple" found there. These figures "could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship", the ministry added. The city is likely to have been "one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres" of Mayan civilisation. read more in world news Monuments unearthed at the site have been dated to the Middle Preclassic period of 800-500 BC, while the city itself "presents remarkable architectural planning". The city covers an area of around six square miles and is found in Guatemala's northern Petén department. Researchers also found a 108 foot high pyramid nearby that had Preclassic murals and "a unique canal system". "Archaeological investigations have included the active participation of Guatemalan and international professionals, with the support of the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia ," a ministry spokesperson said. Most read in The US Sun "This joint effort has allowed significant advancements in the exploration, conservation, and dissemination of the Mayan legacy." Three sites - Los Abuelos, Petnal and Cambraya - were unearthed through the country's ongoing Uaxactún Regional Archaeological Project. Rediscovering the Lost Maya City of Ocomtún (1) "These sites form a previously unknown urban triangle," a ministry spokesperson added. "These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organisation of pre-Hispanic Peten." Mayan civilisation rose around 2000 BC and reached its peak between 400 and 900 AD. It spanned across present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, along with some parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras . The amazing new discovery comes after a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's ancient Teotihuacán culture was unearthed in April. It was painted with a mural of red, yellow, and blue - which are colours associated with that culture. This find was seen as suggesting evidence of possible contact between the two cultures. 6 The Pyramid at Calakmul, Mexico Credit: Getty 6 Architectural details with dragon head sink drain of significant Mesoamerican pyramids and green grassland located at at Teotihuacan Credit: Getty
