Skip to content

salt

CondimentsYear-round

Salt provides essential sodium and chloride minerals critical for nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and electrolyte balance, though dietary moderation is recommended due to health associations with excessive sodium intake.

About

Salt is a naturally occurring mineral compound composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), essential for human physiological function and one of the oldest food preservation and flavoring agents known to civilization. Extracted through evaporation of seawater, mineral deposits, or underground salt mines, salt exists in multiple crystalline forms ranging from fine powder to large mineral nuggets. The main types include sea salt, rock salt (halite), kosher salt, and specialty salts such as Himalayan pink salt and fleur de sel, each with distinct grain sizes, mineral compositions, and textural properties that influence their culinary applications.

Culinary Uses

Salt serves as the primary flavor enhancer and seasoning across virtually all culinary traditions, enhancing natural flavors, suppressing bitterness, and balancing sweetness. Beyond its seasoning role, salt functions as a critical preservative through curing, brining, and dry-salting techniques in charcuterie, seafood preservation, and fermented foods. In baking and cooking, salt regulates gluten development, controls fermentation rates, and aids texture formation in breads, pastas, and cured meats. Different salt varieties—coarse kosher salt for finishing, fleur de sel for delicate garnish, and fine sea salt for baking—provide textural variation and mineral complexity to refined preparations.

Used In

Recipes Using salt (6,202)

RCI-VG.001.0204.001

Ensalada de Aguacate

Cuban avocado salad

RCI-VG.001.0206.001

Ensalada de Cinco de Mayo

Makes 6 servings

RCI-VG.001.0207.001

Ensalada de Coliflor

Ensalada de Coliflor from the Recidemia collection

RCI-ND.005.0049.001

Ensalada de Espirales

Ensalada de Espirales from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.004.0457.001

Ensalada de Pallares (Lima beans)

Cuisine of Peru

RCI-VG.001.0210.001

Ensalada de Rabanos

Ensalada de Rabanos from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.004.0458.001

Ensalada Hervida

Ensalada Hervida from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.001.0211.001

Ensalada Palmito

Ensalada Palmito from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.001.0213.001

Ensalada Verde

Ensalada Verde from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.004.0461.001

Escabeche de Guineos

green banana salad

RCI-MT.004.0374.001

Escabeche de Lerenes

lerenes salad

RCI-SF.001.0123.001

Escabeche de Pescado

300px| Escabeche de Pescado This recipe is for 1 servings

RCI-MT.004.0375.001

Escabeche de Pollo

A Peruvian recipe from The Ballroom, NYC Escabeche de Pollo

RCI-SF.001.0124.001

Escabeche I

Pickled king fish

RCI-VG.004.0464.001

Escalloped Tomatoes

This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Henson Estate in Dallas, Texas in 1982.

RCI-SF.001.0125.001

Escovitch

Escovitch

RCI-VG.004.0465.001

Estonian Bean Soup

Estonian Bean Soup from the Recidemia collection

RCI-MT.005.0082.001

Estonian Ground Meat Patties (Hakklihakotlet)

Estonian Ground Meat Patties (Hakklihakotlet) from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.005.0058.001

Estonian Sauerkraut

Estonian Sauerkraut from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.003.0186.001

Ethiopian Flat Bread

* Makes 24

RCI-BR.001.0087.001

Ethiopian Honey Bread

Yield: 1½ lb loaf

RCI-BR.001.0088.001

Ethiopian Honey Bread III

Makes one 8 inch (20 cm) round loaf.

RCI-VG.003.0062.001

Ewa Dodo

Seafood, plantains, and black-eyed peas. Yield: 6 servings.

RCI-SN.003.0111.001

Eyeball Deviled Eggs

) snack.

RCI-SP.002.0091.001

Ezme Sebze

Ezme Sebze Çorbasi Ezme Sebze (cream of Vegetable Soup) is usually prepared in western regions, especially in the winter.

RCI-BR.008.0066.001

Fabulous FlapJacks

Fabulous FlapJacks from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.004.0212.001

Fabulous Rhubarb Cake

Fabulous Rhubarb Cake from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.005.0267.001

Faculty Bob's Cookies

Faculty Bob's Cookies from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.004.0468.001

Faina

Faina is a type of flatbread made with chickpea flour (harina de garbanzos). It is sometimes eaten with a slice of pizza, in which case it is called pizza a caballo (pizza on horseback); this is very popular in Uruguayan and Argentine pizzerias.

RCI-BR.003.0188.001

Fairy Almond Coconut Muffins

Always check the ingredients to make sure the product is vegan.

RCI-SN.002.0138.001

Falafels

I love me a good falafel. Not sure how authentic this recipe is but it's a world away from the bland, dry dreck served at most kebab outlets. I pan fry them with oil, but you could probably deep fry with this recipe too.

RCI-BR.004.0213.001

Family Favorite Cake

Makes 1 two layer cake

RCI-SP.003.0258.001

Family-friendly Chili

Chili recipes abound! There are recipes for super-hot "5-alarm" chili, white chili, vegetarian chili — if you can imagine it, there's probably a recipe for it. ) This makes a lot of chili. Fortunately, it freezes well.

RCI-RC.004.0110.001

Far-East Fruited Rice

Makes 6 servings

RCI-ND.007.0025.001

Farina Dumplings

Farina Dumplings from the Recidemia collection

RCI-MT.001.0104.001

Farmers Market Steak

This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Mclean Estate in Irving, Texas in 1982.

RCI-MT.005.0084.001

Farmhouse Beef Casserole

Contributed by Jenn B aka Mom2Sam and Tiny at World Re

RCI-BR.001.0089.001

Farmhouse Rolls

.

RCI-MT.005.0086.001

Faschierter Braten

Austrian Cuisine

RCI-VG.004.0471.001

Fasolada

Fasolada Fasolada is a very popular bean soup. It is usually eaten with feta cheese and crusty bread. Bean soup is served with smoked herring and and is well known in Greece as a very nutritious meal.

RCI-VG.004.0472.001

Fasolakia

Fasolakia is a green bean side dish

RCI-VG.004.0473.001

Fasolakia Salata me Tono

right|Green bean salad with tuna (Fasolakia salata me tono) Green bean salad with tuna

RCI-VG.004.0476.001

Fasoulia Khadra

Green bean stew

RCI-MT.004.0377.001

Fast Chicken Fiesta

Makes 6 servings

RCI-MT.004.0378.001

Fast Chicken Fiesta II

Makes 6 servings

RCI-SF.001.0126.001

Fast Dish Catfish

Makes 4 servings

RCI-SN.005.0019.001

Fatayer bil Sabanikh

Spinach Pies. Note: You can substitute spinach with unchopped purslane leaves.

RCI-BR.003.0189.001

Fat-free Baking Powder Biscuits

Makes about 15 - 20 biscuits.

RCI-BR.003.0190.001

Fat-free Banana Muffins

Makes 12 servings

RCI-BR.005.0269.001

Fat-free Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Makes about 2½ dozen