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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.005.0077.001

Hungarian Cabbage Rolls I

Hungarian Cabbage Rolls I from the Recidemia collection

RCI-SP.002.0115.001

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.

RCI-VG.004.0686.001

Hungarian-style Cauliflower

Hungarian-style Cauliflower from the Recidemia collection

RCI-EG.003.0076.001

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.

RCI-BR.007.0069.001

Hvidkål med Kommen

Caraway dabbage

RCI-SP.002.0116.001

Hvidløgssuppe

This garlic soup can be traced back to Greece. Serve with herbed toast.

RCI-VG.004.0687.001

Ibiharage

Fried beans

RCI-BR.005.0361.001

Ice Box Cookies

Ice Box Cookies from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.004.0278.001

Iced Chocolate Cupcakes

Iced Chocolate Cupcakes from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.003.0236.001

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.

RCI-SN.005.0033.001

Icli Kofte

Meatballs with bulgur and a filling of minced meat with pine nuts.

RCI-VG.004.0691.001

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.

RCI-VG.004.0692.001

I Know It's Not Egg Tofu Scramble

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

RCI-SN.001.0225.001

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.

RCI-MT.005.0128.001

Il Bollito

Boiled beef 4 servings

RCI-RC.004.0147.001

Imperial Pork Salad

Makes 6 servings.

Inarizushi
RCI-RC.003.0006.001

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.

RCI-SN.001.0226.001

Ina's Best Guacamole

Ina's Best Guacamole from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.005.0080.001

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.

RCI-SC.006.0017.001

Indian Curry Marinade

If you want a bit more flavor in a dish, substitute this for curry paste in a recipe.

RCI-MT.003.0045.001

Indian Lamb Chops and Rice

Makes 6 servings

RCI-BR.003.0237.001

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.

RCI-DS.001.0283.001

Indian Pudding

North America | Native American cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine Indian Pudding

RCI-EG.002.0044.001

Indian Scrambled Eggs

Recipe by Hooked on Heat

RCI-SP.006.0040.001

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.

RCI-BV.009.0041.001

Indian Tomato Juice

Indian Tomato Juice from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.001.0313.001

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.

RCI-MT.002.0157.001

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.

RCI-RC.004.0149.001

Indonesian-style Fried Rice

Indonesian-style Fried Rice is a popular food in Indonesia.

RCI-SF.001.0199.001

Inihaw na Pusit – (Grilled squid)

Inihaw na Pusit – (Grilled squid) from the Recidemia collection

RCI-DS.003.0177.001

In Jeol Mi

In jeol mi (Sweet rice cake covered with toasted bean powder Sweet rice cake covered with toasted bean powder

RCI-BR.008.0098.001

Injera III

Eritean and Ethiopian flat bread.

RCI-BR.004.0284.001

Innkeeper Pie

Innkeeper Pie from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.001.0314.001

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.

RCI-DS.001.0284.001

Instant Chocolate Mousse

American cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine | Holiday Recipes

RCI-VG.005.0081.001

Instant Kimchi

300px| Instant Kimchi Yield: 4 servings

RCI-RC.005.0043.001

Instant Oatmeal

Instant Oatmeal

RCI-VG.001.0315.001

Iraqi Bread Salad

Iraqi Bread Salad from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.005.0364.001

Iraqi Cardamom Cookies (Hadgi Badah)

Iraqi Cardamom Cookies (Hadgi Badah) from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.001.0316.001

Iraqi Carrot Salad

Iraqi Carrot Salad from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.004.0701.001

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.

RCI-BR.003.0239.001

Irish American Soda Bread

Irish American Soda Bread

RCI-BR.003.0241.001

Irish Buttermilk Scones

These scones are the perfect complement to morning coffee or afternoon tea. Serve scones hot with your favorite jam.

RCI-VG.001.0317.001

Irish Cabbage and Potato Slaw

This recipe tastes best when the cabbage and carrots are still crunchy to the bite. Makes 12 servings.

RCI-BR.008.0099.001

Irish Potato Pancakes

Irish Potato Pancakes from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.003.0243.002

Irish Soda Bread

Over a hundred years ago, the Irish in many parts of rural Ireland made bread using baking soda. Thi

RCI-BR.003.0243.001

Irish Soda Bread

Irish cuisine | Vegetarian Cuisine | Holiday | Bread

RCI-SP.004.0181.002

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.

RCI-MT.002.0158.001

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.

RCI-SF.003.0027.001

Island Ceviche

Contrary to popular belief, ceviche not involve raw fish. It's not exactly cooked, either.