
salt
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)
Hungarian Cabbage Rolls I
Hungarian Cabbage Rolls I from the Recidemia collection
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
This Soup has lots of flavor and is fairly quick to make. It's primarily a mushroom soup but derives a lot of its flavor from other ingredients.
Hungarian-style Cauliflower
Hungarian-style Cauliflower from the Recidemia collection
Hungry Person's Breakfast Custard Casserole
Purchased from the Weir Estate in Canton, Texas in 1990. Notation on card indicates this is Norman's favorite breakfast treat. Dated 1944.
Hvidkål med Kommen
Caraway dabbage
Hvidløgssuppe
This garlic soup can be traced back to Greece. Serve with herbed toast.
Ibiharage
Fried beans
Ice Box Cookies
Ice Box Cookies from the Recidemia collection
Iced Chocolate Cupcakes
Iced Chocolate Cupcakes from the Recidemia collection
Icelandic Three-grain Brown Bread
Icelandic Three-grain Brown Bread This soda bread recipe comes from an Icelandic farmhouse. It's dark,delicious, and full of wholesome grains. It's also excellent toasted.
Icli Kofte
Meatballs with bulgur and a filling of minced meat with pine nuts.
Ifisashi
Zambia's version of the "Greens in Peanut Sauce" found all over Central and Southern Africa, Ifisashi, is usually a vegetarian greens and peanuts dish. However, meat can be added if any is handy.
I Know It's Not Egg Tofu Scramble
Always check the ingredients to make sure the product is vegan.
Ikra Ovoshchnaia
This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Gingham Estate in Fort Worth, Texas in 1992.
Il Bollito
Boiled beef 4 servings
Imperial Pork Salad
Makes 6 servings.

Inarizushi
Inari-zushi: rice stuffed in fried tofu (abura a-ge) All sushi has rice in it, but not all sushi uses nori as a wrapper.
Ina's Best Guacamole
Ina's Best Guacamole from the Recidemia collection
Incredible Cabbage Rolls
Purchased from the Early Estate in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1992. This recipe is a newspaper clipping from the Chicago Times in 1956. I have made this on numerous occasions and it has always been a hit.
Indian Curry Marinade
If you want a bit more flavor in a dish, substitute this for curry paste in a recipe.
Indian Lamb Chops and Rice
Makes 6 servings
Indian Pone
A small simple corn cake, similar to a johnnycake, originally cooked in ashes, and introduced to early European settlers by indigenous Americans. Also known as "corn pone" in the Southern United States.
Indian Pudding
North America | Native American cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine Indian Pudding
Indian Scrambled Eggs
Recipe by Hooked on Heat
Indian Spiced Chilled Tomato Soup
Wonderfully aromatic, cardamom adds a distinct and delicious Indian flavor to this tasty soup, which is also good served warm in cooler months.
Indian Tomato Juice
Indian Tomato Juice from the Recidemia collection
Indonesian Cucumber Salad
A refreshing salad with a kick, how much of the dressing ingredients you want to add does not just depend on your taste buds but also on the size of the cucumbers.
Indonesian Pork
I'm not sure where I found this recipe, but it sounded so weird to me at the time, I just had to try it. I do alot of outdoor cooking on the grill. I'm lucky enough to have a Big Green egg out on my deck to cook on.
Indonesian-style Fried Rice
Indonesian-style Fried Rice is a popular food in Indonesia.
Inihaw na Pusit – (Grilled squid)
Inihaw na Pusit – (Grilled squid) from the Recidemia collection
In Jeol Mi
In jeol mi (Sweet rice cake covered with toasted bean powder Sweet rice cake covered with toasted bean powder
Injera III
Eritean and Ethiopian flat bread.
Innkeeper Pie
Innkeeper Pie from the Recidemia collection
Insalata Caprese
This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Cabrera Estate in Malakoff, Texas in 1986.
Instant Chocolate Mousse
American cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine | Holiday Recipes
Instant Kimchi
300px| Instant Kimchi Yield: 4 servings
Instant Oatmeal
Instant Oatmeal
Iraqi Bread Salad
Iraqi Bread Salad from the Recidemia collection
Iraqi Cardamom Cookies (Hadgi Badah)
Iraqi Cardamom Cookies (Hadgi Badah) from the Recidemia collection
Iraqi Carrot Salad
Iraqi Carrot Salad from the Recidemia collection
Iraqi Taghrib
This is an Iraqi recipe eaten by the poor people in Iraq since it is so simple, but the taste is kingly. It is a kind of soup/stew served over cut up pieces of large flatbread.
Irish American Soda Bread
Irish American Soda Bread
Irish Buttermilk Scones
These scones are the perfect complement to morning coffee or afternoon tea. Serve scones hot with your favorite jam.
Irish Cabbage and Potato Slaw
This recipe tastes best when the cabbage and carrots are still crunchy to the bite. Makes 12 servings.
Irish Potato Pancakes
Irish Potato Pancakes from the Recidemia collection
Irish Soda Bread
Over a hundred years ago, the Irish in many parts of rural Ireland made bread using baking soda. Thi
Irish Soda Bread
Irish cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine | Holiday | Bread
Irish Stew
Irish Stew is a traditional Irish dish made from lamb or mutton as well as potatoes, onions and parsley. It originated in Ireland but appears in cookbooks all over Europe, including in Escoffier's Guide Culinaire.
Isla Bonita Pork Tenderloin
This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Skaggs Estate in Crandall, Texas in 1987.
Island Ceviche
Contrary to popular belief, ceviche not involve raw fish. It's not exactly cooked, either.