Cast Iron Dosa Tawa

One of the fondest memories I have of my childhood is eating hot crispy dosas that my amma made. The captivating aroma of spicy onion chutney and cold pressed sesame oil paired with her dosas is something I will always hold on to dearly. There’s something about the consistency of her dosas that I can never quite master to this day, and I still ask her to make them for me. As dosa lovers, I am sure everyone is fascinated by the large iron tawa used to make delicious dosas, and I am no different. The heavy bottomed, iron tawa that my amma has been using since I have known it, was one of her favorites in the kitchen. Morning, evening or night, it never failed her.

Preparing a meal for the family is no easy task, and we are all aware of the thinking and effort it involves. What to make, how much to make, having proper cookware, making sure we have all the right ingredients, and cleaning up after, are just a few of the things involved. At Essential Traditions, we aim to make your life easier when it comes to cookware. We present to you, our very own hand-seasoned cast iron cookware, and our best-seller: the cast iron dosa tawa. 

But before all that, let’s learn a little bit about what cast iron is, how we hand season our products and the maintenance of cast iron cookware.

 

What is cast iron?

We’re all familiar with iron and how it is one of the most useful metals we know of. We have been using iron since the iron age (from around 1200 BC), millennials ago. Today, there are two major types of iron that are being used. They are: cast iron and wrought iron. Of these, cast iron is used to make the cookware we use. 

Cast iron is an alloy that contains iron and more than 2% of carbon. It is known for its excellent castability. Castability makes a material easy to cast into a mold and make products from it. 

How is cast iron different from iron?

Iron and cast iron differ in terms of composition and properties:

1. Composition: Iron is a chemical element. Cast iron on the other hand, is an alloy of iron and other elements like carbon, silicon, manganese, sulfur and phosphorus. 

Resistance to heat: Cast iron is more heat-resistant than iron.

Durability: Cast iron is more durable than iron and lasts for generations.

Brittleness: Cast iron is more brittle than iron and can break under high stress.

Properties of cast iron that make it great for cookware

Cast iron also has more properties that make it such a versatile material to make cookware out of. Let’s see what they are. 

Heat Retention: In addition to being an excellent conductor of heat, cast iron also has the ability to retain heat well. This makes it ideal for cooking at medium temperature. Heat retention also allows cast iron cookware to consume less fuel than most materials. 

Naturally non-stick: Although it does not compare with teflon-coated non-stick cookware, cast iron becomes naturally non-stick (to a certain extent) when it is seasoned properly. This natural property removes the health risks associated with traditional teflon-coated cookware.

Durability: Cast iron cookware is highly durable and is a great investment because it lasts for generations with the right care and maintenance. 

Heat distribution: Superior heat distribution property allows cast iron to cook food evenly without burning it. Say goodbye to burnt dosas! 

In addition to these, cast iron cookware also adds trace amounts of iron to the food while cooking, benefitting people with iron deficiency. 

Cast Iron Dosa Tawa

The cast iron dosa tawa is a true game changer when it comes to making dosas. 

• It is ideal because it cooks your dosas evenly while maintaining a steady temperature across its surface to prevent burnt dosas.
• It is a valuable add to your kitchen as it can be passed down for generations with minimal wear and tear.
• A good cast iron tawa is typically heavy and solid making it a great alternative to thinner and cheaper tawas that do not last as long.
• It is very easy to season to your liking. 
• Proper seasoning of the cast iron dosa tawa will give you a natural non-stick surface so you can make healthy, crispy paper dosas right at home.

Care and maintenance

• The cast iron dosa tawa is very easy to maintain. 
• It gets better with every use and does not require repeated teflon-coating to make it non-stick. 
• It’s simple to clean, and all you have to do is use a regular dish soap and dry it with a piece of cloth. 
• To prevent rust, we advise applying a thin layer of oil before storage.  

Why the cast iron dosa tawa deserves more love

At Essential Traditions, we aim to put the limelight on traditionally crafted kitchen items. We source our materials from local artisans and bring traditional cookware products to as many homes as we can. Essential Traditions buys cast iron cookware from artisans at Madurai’s famous sandhais (local markets) where local artisans thrive. Their traditional way of making cast iron items has been passed down generations and remains the same today. Molten iron is combined with other metals, poured into a mold, and made into versatile cookware - including our best seller: the cast iron dosa tawa. We aim to celebrate this tradition which is a family business for our local artisans and bring more recognition to their work.   

Come join us in our mission to spread awareness about artisanal craftsmanship and traditional cookware. Get your cast iron tawa from Essential Traditions today!