Find out what is in herb salt and learn how to make your own. With herb salt, you can cook and eat healthier meals with less salt.

What is Herb Salt

You may have probably ask yourself umpteen times, what to do with fresh herbs. If you are growing your own with abundant supply, surely you want to use them quickly while fresh. Cooking and juicing with herbs are ways using them daily. Besides that, making your own herb-infused oil and herb butter can help you preserve the fresh herbs. Now, let’s add another – make your own herb salt.  Not only will you NOT waste your fresh herbs, but it is also actually healthier and flavourful. You get a salty herbaceous flavour and taste rather than saltiness alone. This way, you will use less salt. Is this not interesting? Read on, I’ll tell you more.

What is in Herb Salt

As the name says it, herb and salt.

There are many variations making herb salt and there is no right or wrong.

There are some herb salt recipes that call for garlic and black pepper. Also, lemon or orange zest for a citrusy flavour.

Make do with fresh herbs you have available or those you love. After all, it is about preserving your fresh herbs. But do not let this be the only reason making your own. There are many benefits using herb salt.

Sprinkle herb salt onto beef steak before serving to enhance the flavourChefs and many home cooks describe herb salt as finishing salt. Meaning it is used to season cooked food by simply sprinkling herb salt onto your dishes before serving. For this reason, you can use less salt or none at all when cooking. Healthier, yes?

On top of that, you need only little herb salt when flavouring your dish. Why? Coarse salt is normally used and little is enough to give you an impact due to its larger crystal size. You will notice the taste immediately.

Does this convince you to make your herb salt? It is not complicated. Read on and take this step-by-step.

Various types of salt can be used to make herb salt

Salt, being the base of the mixture, let’s look at the various types of salt you may use.

Choose Your Salt

When choosing your salt, take into consideration the flavour and nutrient profile of your blend. Even the natural colour of the salts are different and can make an impression should you want to make herb salt as a gift.

Here are 6 types of salt you may consider using.

Himalayan Pink

Himalaya pink salt is mined from the ancient sea beds in the Himalayas that have been formed about 600 million years ago.

Its minerals include iron, magnesium, copper and potassium, among others which gives the salt a light pink tint.

Historically, the Himalayans used this salt to preserve their fish and meat throughout the year.

Himalayan pink is the perfect seasoning for grilled meats, fish, ribs, eggs, vegetables, soup, stews and pasta salads.

Hawaiian Black Lava

Harvested from south Pacific waters, Hawaiian black lava is infused with activated charcoal, giving it both its distinctive black colour and numerous antioxidant and health benefits.

Its earthy and slightly tannic flavour gives a unique touch of taste to roasted vegetables, soups, stir-fry dishes and on the barbeque.

Hawaiian Red Alaea

Another salt from the Pacific waters, Red Alaea salt has been traditionally used on the Hawaiian islands to season and preserve most of the people’s foods.

Its bold deep red colour is formed through natural evaporation in tidal pools and mixes with red volcanic clay. The red colour comes from the tremendously high amount of iron in the clay.

The mellow flavour of this salt goes well with all kinds of dishes as well as soups and stews. It is gaining popularity as a topping for chocolate and ice cream. Will you try this? Sounds yummy.

Celtic Grey

Harvested from the coastal region of France, Celtic Grey sea salt get its light grey hue from the pure clay soil where it derived from.

Contains potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc and other important trace minerals.

Celtic sea salt imparts a mineral-rich flavour that enhances the taste of any dish.

Fleur de Sel

Harvested off the coast of Brittany, France, Fleur de Sel means “flower of salt” in French. The name comes from the flower-like patterns of crystals in the salt crust.

As seawater evaporates, most of the salt precipitates out on the bottom and later collected as ordinary sea salt. However, some salt crystals float on the surface of the seawater, forming a thin delicate crystal crust. This is Fleur de Sel.

Besides sodium chloride, its mineral content includes calcium and magnesium chloride.

Known as one of the world’s finest sea salt, it is used by chefs and gourmets worldwide. It has a slightly grey, almost pink hue and is best used as a finishing salt. If for some reason, you want to make an “exclusive” herb salt blend, you must seriously consider Fleur de Sel.

However, you must understand that this is the most expensive of salts. The reason is the way in which it is formed and harvested.

Being unrefined, this salt tastes saltier thus you use less.

Additionally, it does not dissolve instantly once sprinkled onto your hot cooked foods because of its high amount of moisture. This gives you a full flavour with savoury crunchiness when you consume your dish.

Use it to boost the flavour of meat, fish, vegetables, eggs and even desserts with chocolate and caramel.

Smoked

You ought to know that smoked sea salt does not give any added nutritional content besides what is already in sea salt. But the rich, distinct smoky flavour is an advantage.

Smoked sea salt is slightly grey or tan in colour due to the smoking process. The variety of smoked sea salt includes Alderwood, Applewood, Hickory, Cherrywood among others.


Go to SHOP to see at a glance, and compare prices for the variety of salts mentioned.

Choose Your Herbs

Fresh HerbsMost of your common cooking herbs are ideal for making herb salt. Garden or market herbs, waste not and use them whenever you have more than needed for cooking.

It is also best to know the nutritional and medicinal values of the herbs you are using. This will help you choose the herbs based on your needs.

Here is a list of fresh herbs you may use with a quick run-through of their valuable properties.

Basil. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Rich source of magnesium and vitamin A. Aids digestion and relieves stress.

Chive. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Excellent source of fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and vitamin K. Ease digestion, soothe upset stomachs, prevent bad breath, and helps lower high blood pressure.

Cilantro. Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Good source of fibre, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin K and B6. Aids digestion and combats insomnia.

Mint. Antioxidant and antibacterial. Contains potassium, protein, calcium, zinc, iron and fibre. Rich in vitamin C and A. Accelerate digestion, alleviate stomachaches and soothe headaches.

Oregano. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Rich source of fibre, manganese, calcium, iron and vitamin K. Control cholesterol levels and improve bone density.

Parsley. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Good source of fibre, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. Rich in vitamins A, C, and K. Benefits to the bones and immune system.

 
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Rosemary. Antioxidant and antibacterial. Contains fibre, iron, calcium, manganese and abundance of B vitamins. Help alleviate muscle pain, improve memory and boost the immune system.

Sage. Antioxidant and anti-Inflammatory. Contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin A and K. Relieve gastrointestinal discomfort, improve memory and control blood sugar level and cholesterol.

Thyme. Antibacterial and antioxidant. Good source of fibre, iron, manganese and vitamin A and C. Boost immune system, control blood pressure and improve blood circulation.

Consider Growing Your Own Herbs Indoors

Read more on how to grow indoor herbs year-round.

How to Make Your Own Herb Salt

Regardless of the type of salt and herbs you have chosen, follow these steps.

The basic formula is 1 part roughly ground dried herbs to ½ - 1 part sea salt.

When you are making your first blend, it is advisable to use less salt. Taste and adjust the amount of salt as you go along. You can add more salt but cannot take them out. Remember, you want not just the saltiness but the herbaceous tang is as important.

Fresh ParsleyPrepare your herbs. You may use a single origin or combine 2 or several.

Wash and dry your fresh herbs. You may choose to lay your herbs on a parchment or towel paper to air dry or put them in the oven at the lowest temperature or in a dehydrator.

Be careful NOT to overly dry them as some of the essential oils in the herbs will evaporate, thus reduces the overall flavour and aroma.

Use only the leaves, not the stem. Normally, I use a knife to chop the herbs. Doing manually gives me more control on the texture as I love to be able to see the flaky herbs rather than all mash-up. Of course, you can use a mortar & pestle, food processor or spice grinder.

Measure your dried chopped herbs. Remember the ratio? 1 part dried herbs : ½ -1 part salt

The reason using “part” is because “part” can be teaspoon, tablespoon or cup. It is much easier without the need to convert one measurement to another.

SaltAdd salt of your choice. If you have 2 tablespoons of dried herbs, add 1 tablespoon of salt.

Combine them well. Slowly increase the salt to your preference.

If you are using coarse salt and find the grains too large for your liking, put the mixture into a spice grinder and give it a few pulses, checking the finest before the next pulse.

Adding aromatic such as lemon, orange or lime, you need to grate or peel them before drying in the oven or dehydrator. Then, combine with the herb salt mixture.

Garlic is another great addition and is rather common making herb salt.

(I learned this from a cooking series on TV) When chopping your garlic, bring together the garlic and salt (half of the portion from your herb salt blend) on a cutting board and chop them.  Blending in the salt as you work.

3 reasons for doing this – chopping garlic with salt

  1. 1. Helps prevent the stickiness to a minimum between the garlic and the knife or your fingers.
  2. 2. Helps break down the garlic with less effort.
  3. 3. Adds a touch of subtle flavour.

After you are done with the chopping, combine with the herb salt mixture.

Clear Glass Salt Cellar with Lid
Clear Glass Salt Cellar with Lid on Amazon

Finally. I prefer the drier version of herb salt. How about you? Yes. Lay the mixture out on a parchment-line baking sheet and let it air dry. Hours or a day depending on the humidity of your home. I am sure you will know when it is done.

Store in an airtight container and enjoy! For the finer version of the herb salt, you may put them into a shaker straight away.

Use a beautiful salt jar should you be giving it as a gift. Surely, the recipient will be delighted.

You ought to know the colour of the green herbs in the salt will fade over time. While the aroma and flavour remain, the intensity will diminish gradually.

How to Use Herb Salt

The potential uses are limitless.

Start sprinkling your herb salt on

    • • Grilled meats
    • • Roasted vegetables
    • • Sliced tomatoes
    • • Soups and stews
    • • Poached or scrambled eggs
    • • Avocado toast
    • • Popcorn
    • • Pizza
    • • Fried foods such as French fries and tempura
    • • Chocolate brownies
    • • Ice cream
    • • Fruit salad
    • • Others (tell me if you know more…)

 

To Sum Up

Reducing your salt intake does not mean you don’t get to eat full-flavoured food. Herb salt is mostly used as a finishing salt thus you may cut down or omit the salt when seasoning your meat or when you are cooking. Furthermore, with these flavoured herb salt, you need only a little to give you a well-balanced palate.

Is this not a wonderful way to use or preserve your fresh herbs? You get to add herbs to every meal with just a sprinkle, enhancing the flavour and nutritional value of your food.

I am a frugal mom thus I urge you to use any herbs or salt you have available. Once you are familiar making a simple herb salt, go ahead and experiment with different combinations of herbs and salt. Spice it up with cinnamon, cayenne, paprika or peppercorns.

Consider using two or three different types of salt. Remember, the colour and taste are different among them. And, when grinding, try different consistency from coarse to fine.  Be creative and enjoy the process!

Always remember to start with less salt. Also, it is a good idea to choose your herb based on your need. It could be for inflammation soothing, digestion support, memory improvement or blood sugar level control.

Read Related Articles

Please Comment

Well, now you know what is in herb salt and how to make it, will you start making your own? Share your herb salt experience with us should you have any. Would love to learn more.

Happy Mixing and Sprinkling!

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If you find this blog post interesting, please share it with anyone that you think might find it useful. Thank you and have a good day!

From the Corner of My Home – Spice Up Your Life with Herbs and Spices

Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links as part of the Amazon Services LLC Associate Programs and other affiliate services. This means that cornerofmyhome.com receives a small commission by linking to amazon.com and other sites at no extra cost to the readers.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional, and this post should not be taken as medical advice. Please do your own research. Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.



Published by

Sharon

Sharon is on a career break, minding her family. During her free hours, she loves sharing her passion for herbs and spices. She learned how to build this website at Wealthy Affiliate University. If you have a passionate topic and would love to share, click here to learn how to build your own profitable website!

20 Replies to “What is Herb Salt

  1. Hello Sharon, thanks for sharing this wonderful post. Most people do not know the importance of using natural products/substance when cooking  or even other activities. There have been cases where the use of other salt hae caused some heath issue and since knowing about all these I have always gone back to natural products. Currently I’m using Basil, Oregano and thyme and I’ll love to try some others. Nice being here.

  2. I think I can use a lot of tips that are provided here. But I usually use the salt that I get from my local store. It is a bit of a pain to go over there and buy it, but you know how it goes, in order to have a good meal, I’ll just about do anything.

    Maybe I’ll ask my cook friends to try out some of the tips present in your blogs as well. Maybe they can grab a quick idea or two.

    Sid

  3. Though I have never been a big fan of DIY  but I really fancy the prospect of doing this by myself. Setting and making my own herb salt would seem very reasonable to me because I would be at liberty to gauge whatever I want to include in it and exactly how I want it to be like. However, I like the suggestions you made above. I will use some of the suggested herb salts especially the Hawaiians. Thanks

    1. The beauty of making it ourselves is that we can control what goes into it. We get to choose the flavours and minus the salt and additives mostly found in store-bought seasonings. Tell me how you like the Black Lava salt. It will go perfectly well with roasted vegetables.

      Happy Mixing & Sprinkling!

  4. This is a very informative and educating article. Herb salt Is really not what I expected when I read the title but as I flipped through the lines, I was able to grab a few things about what it is. Preserving your fresh herbs is really cool and herb salt is of immense benefits to human health, also for spicing up our dishes. I’ve let a whole lot, thanks for sharing this article, I enjoyed reading.

  5. Excellent post you have shared here and I must really respect your overview on the need to making use of do it yourself procedure in making my herb salts. Herb salts are exceptional and they can really help set the body in motion especially with both the health benefits and the body nutrients. This is really awesome to me and I will try the process out. However, the various herbsalt listed above are great to see and it should be great to try some of them out. Thanks

    1. Hello Trace. I am sure you will like the herb salt as much as you liked reading this. Let me know how you find the results making your own. 

      Happy Mixing!

  6. Hi, Sharon, I just love this post!

    I have a digestive condition that limits some of the foods I can eat, but salt is not one of them, so I still enjoy it on my food.

    I also love parsley, chives, and thyme. I have osteoporosis and they are good for bones, so I use them a lot. I was thinking about growing some of my own in a kitchen garden, but I was concerned about using them all up. Your post about how to make herb salt is the perfect solution. And, I’m also interested in trying out some of these different kinds of salt.

    You’ve given me a new project that I’m excited to try. Thanks!
    Stella 🙂

    1. Hi Stella, Thanks for your love!

      The different kinds of salt will make your herb salt stands out in terms of flavour, texture and colour. I am seeing this as a great gift to give. Do you agree?

      Happy Mixing!

  7. What an informative post. Thank you Sharon! I have been growing herbs here in the U.K. for decades and your right of course, the best way to eat them are when they are first gathered. In the past I have frozen them with some success but I’m not a huge fan. Until now, I had never thought about herb salt and I had no idea about the different types of salt available. I found your post inspirational and I can’t wait to have a go. I like the idea of using the herb salts in cooking (another hobby of mine) so a double whammy!

  8. I can’t believe how many different types of herb salt there is! I searched this up as I have been told I need to cut down on my table salt intake and this is the perfect answer.

    I would have to grow mine indoors as I have very little space and I love the vertical planter idea in your video. Are there any other ways to grow and display your herbs indoors?

    Many thanks for this enlightening post, I will be back to get more of your wonderful tips.

    Tony

    1. Herbs and spices are a good salt substitute. Besides herb salt, you may consider making your own spice blend instead of using store-bought seasoning. Making your own, you can control the salt content or omit them altogether. Furthermore, no more preservatives or other chemical contents.

      Another interesting and refreshing way to grow your herb indoors is using decorative indoor hanging planters. I asure you, it is beautiful and attractive. Check it out!

      Thanks for being here, Tony. Have a great day!

  9. Hey Sharon. It is a wonderful post for those trying to eat healthy. I often use herbal salt. I usually use Himalaya salt with parsley, dill, thyme, tarragon. It is the plants we like the most. Put on food, give it a special flavor and taste.

    Thus, in the winter, I also have green plants for cooking, more precisely for finishing the food.

  10. Wow, this is so interesting! I learned something new today. I grow lots of herbs, especially mint they are relentless bunch of invaders. Too much to eat, harvest, and get rid off.

    I will definitely use the mint. I also have bail that smells divinely. I’m glad to have read your article. Thanks a lot.

    1. Hi Kelyee. How are you doing? Nice to see you back here again. I saw from your FB post you are growing lots of herbs. That’s great!

      I am glad this article has given you idea to preserve your herbs. Thanks for dropping by & stay safe!

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