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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.002.0084.001

Mashed Potato and Rutabaga Casserole

12 servings Mashed Potato and Rutabaga* Casserole

RCI-VG.002.0086.001

Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic

This recipe comes from Montréal, Québec Contributed by World Recipes Y-Group Makes 6 servings

RCI-VG.004.0844.001

Mashed spinach with fried eggs

In Romanian: Pire de spanac pentru ochiuri.

RCI-VG.004.0846.001

Masoor Dahl Soup

Masoor Dahl

RCI-BR.001.0156.001

Massa Sovada

Portugese Sweet Bread Contributed by Cat's Recipes Y-Group

RCI-MT.001.0161.001

Matambre II

This dish is normally served refrigerated with the beef very cold, which makes for much easier slicing and serving.

RCI-SP.005.0152.001

Matar Paneer

Serves 3.

RCI-SP.005.0151.001

Matar Paneer

Serves 3.

RCI-SP.005.0153.001

Matar Paneer I

Cottage cheese with green peas

RCI-RC.001.0120.001

Matar Pulao

Peas pilaf

RCI-SP.004.0207.001

Matata

Clam and peanut stew. Matata is a typical Mozambique entree made with pumpkin leaves. We have used spinach as a substitute. This is one dish that wasn't influenced by the cooking of Portugal.

RCI-SF.001.0238.001

Matjeri Masala

Matjeri Masala from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.003.0081.001

Matki Chi Usal

Ethnicity - Marathi, West Indian Type of meal - Party, Lunch, Dinner

RCI-SP.003.0393.001

Matzo Joshawk (Passover Soup)

Matzo Joshawk (Passover Soup) from the Recidemia collection

RCI-EG.003.0094.001

Matzo Mango Kugel

Matzo Mango Kugel from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.008.0119.001

Matzo Meal Latkes

Matzo Meal Latkes from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.008.0120.001

Matzo Meal Pancakes

These are kosher for Passover

RCI-VG.002.0089.001

Maui Sweet Potato Bake

An island flavored side dish! It can be prepared in advance - cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or wrap in foil and freeze for up to a month. Defrost overnight in fridge, bring to room temperature (2 hours) then bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

RCI-DS.001.0340.001

Maya Angelou's Banana Pudding

Created by Maya Angelou

RCI-SN.002.0205.001

May Day Cookies Tippaleivät

May Day Cookies Tippaleivät

RCI-SC.002.0028.001

Mayonnaise (cheap version)

Although Mayonnaise is not a Dutch invention, it has become a staple with Dutch chips. Of course the Dutch have made a cheaper version of Mayonnaise, which is easy to make.

RCI-SC.002.0029.001

Mayonnaise I

In Romanian: Maioneza

RCI-VG.003.0082.001

Mbaazi wa Nazi

Mbaazi wa Nazi from the Recidemia collection

RCI-BR.005.0413.001

Mbatata Cookies

Malawi is known as the "warm heart of Africa" due to the friendliness of Malawian people. These cookies can be cut in the shape of hearts to commemorate the Malawian people.

RCI-VG.004.0850.001

Mbika

Dishes made from the seeds of gourds, , pumpkins, and squashes are termed as Mbika in the Central Africa's Congo River region.

RCI-VG.004.0851.001

Mbika with Meat

Mbika with Meat from the Recidemia collection

RCI-SP.005.0154.001

Mchuzi wa Biringani

Mchuzi wa Biringani from the Recidemia collection

RCI-VG.004.0852.001

Mclean Estate Great Northern Bean Soup

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-VG.003.0083.001

Mdammas Aljazar

Mdammas Aljazar from the Recidemia collection

RCI-SP.001.0079.001

Mealie Soup

Corn soup Serves 6

RCI-BR.006.0198.001

Meat and Potato Pie

Hi GWS, my names AceClown and I'm going to show you how I cook a traditional English meal. The pie! Or to be more exact a meat and potato pie with winter vegetables. This dish came about during WW2 and in the rationing period that followed.

RCI-SN.003.0160.001

Meat Arepas

Meat Arepas

RCI-MT.005.0163.001

Meatball - Appetizers

This is a wonderful little appetizer we serve after Christmas Midnight Mass in our house.

RCI-RC.001.0122.001

Meatball Biryani

Recipe by Hooked on Heat

RCI-MT.005.0166.001

Meatballs and Gravy

Meatballs and Gravy from the Recidemia collection

RCI-SP.004.0210.001

Meat Balls Cassoulet

Makes 6 servings

RCI-MT.005.0168.001

Meat Balls I

Meat Balls I from the Recidemia collection

RCI-MT.005.0169.001

Meatballs II

Meatballs II from the Recidemia collection

RCI-MT.005.0171.001

Meat Balls in Tomato Gravy

Meatballs and a unique sauce, great served with your favorite Pasta, or as meatball subs on a crusty bread, with melted mozzarella and dipped into sauce.

RCI-MT.005.0172.001

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with Onion, Garlic and Spices

Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group * Makes 4 servings

RCI-MT.005.0173.001

Meatballs Lihapullat

(for four - five persons) Meatballs Lihapullat

RCI-SP.003.0395.001

Meatball Soup

This soup beefs up the health by using chicken with lean beef to lower the fat.

RCI-SP.003.0396.001

Meatball Soup I

Meatball Soup

RCI-MT.005.0175.001

Meat Balls Stroganoff

Makes 6 servings.

RCI-MT.005.0178.001

Meatballs with Honey Lime Sauce

Meatballs with Honey Lime Sauce from the Recidemia collection

RCI-MT.005.0180.001

Meat Balls with Sauce Verte

Makes 4 servings

RCI-MT.005.0181.001

Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

Meatballs with Tomato Sauce Try these very tender meatballs over baked spaghetti squash or low-carb pasta.

RCI-SP.003.0398.001

Meat Borscht

It is cooked for several hours on a low flame and its pungent aroma penetrates every corner of the home. It has become popular to serve hot borscht at parties at the stroke of midnight. No one wanting to miss this treat will go home before that hour.

RCI-MT.005.0182.001

Meat Cakes

Nice for a picnic.

RCI-ND.006.0047.001

Meat Casserole

This is for 4 servings