BYO Salt to the Table

Salt adds a little extra something to a meal, but too much can be a problem. Discover the best kinds of salt and learn to make your own flavored salt.

Salt is sodium with chloride. Nutritional labels all include sodium content, which might stand out to some and be ignored by others. What exactly is sodium, and why should we care about what kind and how much is in the food we eat? Sodium is a crucial electrolyte that allows the body to function properly. It allows healthy fluid balance within the body, and its electrically charged molecules help maintain electrical gradients across cell membranes to keep nerves, muscles, and other bodily functions working normally. That being said, too much sodium can cause high blood pressure, water retention and bloating, calcium loss, and the risk for heart disease. If you can keep your sodium under 2,300 milligrams per day, you’ll stay in good shape.

Knowing which salt to eat is also important! The most common types are: kosher, Himalayan, sea, rock, and table salt (most commonly found in restaurants and packaged foods). Without going into too much detail about each origin and use, know that the salt you should reach for when you want to brighten up your food should be the most natural. Keep your eyes peeled for kosher, Himalayan, and sea salt. These will give you the maximum amount of minerals without additives, chemicals, and anticaking agents.

Now that we know that salt is an important part of a balanced nutritious diet, why not get creative and bring your own flavored salt to the table? Flavored salts are hot in the culinary scene because it’s all about getting creative! Keep them at home for meal prep, or package them up in a decorative glass jar. They make excellent additions to any homemade dish (desserts included) as well as inexpensive, homemade gift options.

Homemade Flavored Sea Salt Recipe

Begin with a ratio of 1 teaspoon of your flavor of choice to ¼ cup salt and increase the ratio as your palate desires. What you use for flavoring really is up to you. Just be sure that whatever you choose is a dry ingredient to prevent clumping.

What you’ll need:

• Mortar and pestle, coffee or spice grinder, or food processor
• Airtight glass container
• Salt (coarse or flake salt works best)
• Flavoring options (lime, coffee, jalapeno)

How to prepare:

Combine your flavoring choice with the salt using your hands or one of the above mentioned tools. Be sure that the ingredients are well combined without completely pulverizing the salt crystals into powder. The texture of the salt is what best holds the flavor! Store your finished product in an airtight glass container overnight to allow the flavors to meld with the salt before using. You can save your flavored salt in a dark cool place for a year… if it lasts that long!

Next, try your salt creations on everything from food to beverages! Here are a few of my favorite homemade treats with flavored sea salt:

• Dark chocolate brownies sprinkled with Coffee flavored Sea Salt
• Smoked Sea Salt on popcorn made with coconut oil
• Avocado on toast with Jalapeno Sea Salt
• Line the rim of a margarita glass with Lime Salt

Learn more about salt!