While salt might seem like a basic kitchen ingredient, the world of salt is far more diverse than you might imagine. Each type of salt brings a unique set of flavors and textures, which can add depth and complexity to your dishes. These are a few of my favorite salts to use in recipes.
Kosher Sea Salt
Kosher sea salt is a chef’s go-to salt. Its neutral flavor makes it a great all-purpose salt, and its large, coarse grains allow you to control the level of seasoning in your dishes. I keep a small container of kosher salt on my counter at all times, making it easy to measure the amount I need for a baking recipe or to season a dish to taste as I’m cooking.
Flaked Sea Salt
Flaked sea salt has larger, more delicate flakes than kosher sea salt and is generally used as a finishing salt. My favorite brand is Maldon. The pyramid-shaped crystals add pops of saltiness and an elegant look to your dishes. Try sprinkling this salt on top of your Chocolate Tahini No-Bake Cookies or your Cardamom Spiced Hot Chocolate.
Kala Namak
Kala namak, also known as black salt, is frequently used in vegan cuisine to replicate the taste of eggs. Mined in the Himalayas, this salt is common in South Asian cuisines. It is rich in sulfur, which gives it a pungent, earthy aroma and a distinct, egg-like flavor. I love to add a little of this salt when I’m whipping up a Mexican-Inspired Tofu Scramble or creating a Spaghetti Carbonara.
Smoked Sea Salt
Sea salt can be smoked with different types of wood, each of which imparts its own unique flavor. Hickory smoked sea salt has a robust flavor that is perfect in a vegan bacon. I also love the slightly sweet flavor of applewood smoked sea salt, which is wonderful when added to roasted Brussels sprouts.
