Originally used as a method to preserve fresh herbs during peak gardening season, herbal salt blends are a surefire way to pack a ton of flavor into your food without much effort at all. Imagine capturing the essence of your garden’s vibrant bounty and sprinkling it over your dishes whenever you wish. By simply combining your favorite botanicals with a good flaky salt, you’ll be able to enjoy the brightness of spring and summer herbs all year long!
Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to elevate your culinary creations, these versatile and aromatic salts will quickly become your secret weapon in the kitchen. Let’s get into how to make one yourself.
Ingredients:
- Large bundle of FRESH nutritive herbs of choice (ex: dandelion leaves or nettle)
- Bundle of FRESH savory herbs of choice (ex: chives, rosemary, oregano, sage,basil)
- High-quality mineral salt
Method:
- Harvest herbs and roughly chop them so they don’t bind up the food processor blade
- Add the herbs to a food processor and pulse them until a rough paste is achieved (a blender does not work well for this but may be used in a pinch)
- Add the herb paste to a measuring vessel and take note of the amount
- Add the herb paste to a bowl
- Use half the volume of herbs to measure your salt. This is a 2:1 ratio so if there is 1 cup of herb paste we need .5 cups salt
- Add the salt to to herb paste and work the two together using your hands
- Spread the mixture evenly in a thin layer onto dehydrator trays or a parchment-lined baking sheet. Dry at the lowest setting until the paste has totally dried and is crispy to the touch. This will take several hours
- Break up the salt and return it to the clean food processor and pulse until you achieve your desired texture
- Store the salt in a jar or a salt well and enjoy!
This delicious recipe is brought to us by Alexandra Rosenberg-Rigutto. Alex directs and operates The Farber Farm and is building Northwoods Farmstead and Skill Center with her husband. She hopes to empower others to find uplifting food and medicine in their bioregions, gardens, and kitchens. Follow along on instagram and check out her newly released Herbal Infusion Handbook.
