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A Simple Guide to Gourmet Salts

  • Yasmin Coles
  • February 1, 2011

Salt might be the most common ingredient in any kitchen, but do not take this pinch of flavor for granted.  You’ll be surprised that what seems like a lowly lump of flavoring actually comes in different kinds with different effects.  From Kosher to the sophisticated fleur de sel, salt comes in gourmet forms that can help take your dish to the next level.

Kala Namak or black salt ” expect some oriental flavors with a whiff of this salt.  A common ingredient in Indian cuisine, kala namak is typically used in North India as a condiment, it is added to all kinds of fruits and on  Indian snack foods.

Fleur de Sel de Guerande ” salt goes very French in the form of fleur de sel.  Made from the top quality Grey Sea Salt, fleur de sel is the result of harvested salt forms before the complete evaporation process. It is one of the expensive salts.

Sel gris or grey salt ” formed in the coast of Guerande, Brittany, France, this organic, moist and unrefined salt is noted for its grayish or light purple color.  Because of its organic nature  and the Celtic process used to collect them, sel gris is considered as the best quality salt available today.

Hawaiian sea salt ” Hawaiian sea salt is known for its mellower flavor and distinctive pink color.  This salt gathered from the waters of the Pacific is fortified with an natural additive called “Alaea”which is rich in iron oxide.  “Alaea”is said to augment the beneficial elements present in Hawaiian salt.

Kosher salt ” this pure, coarse salt is normally used to draw the blood out of the meat, thus producing Kosher meat.  Although it is a staple in Jewish culinary and dietary tradition, many chefs like using Kosher salt because it melts easily and is less dense as compared to table salt.

Pickling salt ” this fine-grained salt is preferred for pickling and brining because it does not contain anti-caking preservatives or iodine. It is important for this salt to be  very fine grained so that it is quickly dissolved. It is very useful for any solution that requires salt.

Popcorn Salt ” the perfect company to any tub of popcorn is this superfine table salt. It clings to every corner of the corn kernels that makes it the best choice compared to larger grains of salt. It is perfectly suited for popcorn.

Rock salt ” rock salt comes in large, grayish crystals.  Because it is not refined, rock salt contains many minerals that are normally removed during the processing. Other than using this type of salt for mechanical ice cream makers and as a bed when serving shellfish, some chefs use rock salt as a garnish to add texture to any dish such as salads.

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