4 Salts To Have in Your Pantry

Here’s a primer on the world’s most essential seasoning.

Salt is one of the five basic tastes that humans are hard-wired to experience (along with bitter, sweet, sour and umami). Salt helps intensify the flavour, aroma and appearance of any dish and is also fundamental for making meat juicier (through brining) and for preserving food.

How salt affects flavour is far more complicated than simply adding, well, saltiness and a person could get lost for days nerding out about the science of salt. But here is a basic primer on the salts a home cook should know.

There are two main types of salt: rock salt, which is mined from the earth, and sea salt, which is harvested from the ocean. Most salt is 97.5-per cent sodium chloride, with a variety of minerals and additives accounting for the remaining 2.5 per cent. While these minerals and additives do affect the flavour of each different salt in subtle ways, texture and appearance are arguably more important in informing your salt choices. That is especially true regarding the salt you put on your food to finish the dish, versus the salt you put in your food while cooking it. From finely ground crystals to coarse, irregular chunks, having a variety of salts in your pantry allows you to tailor your choice to each dish and desire.

 

Cyprus Black Lava Salt

Photograph by Jared Sych

Gorgeous as a finishing salt on fish, it also has the detoxifying effects of activated charcoal.

$11.99 for 80 g at The Silk Road, 1403 9 Ave. S.E., 403-261-1955, silkroadspices.ca 

 

Fleur d’Olive Sel au Piment d’Espelette

Photograph by Jared Sych

Finish salads or desserts (especially chocolate mousse) with this sea salt flavoured with Espelette pepper for a little kick.

$7.99 for 110 g at The Little French Market, 2505 17 Ave. S.W., 403-452-8356, thelittlefrenchmarketyyc.com 

 

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Photograph by Jared Sych

Light and flaky sea salt from England, it adds a salty crunch to finished dishes like seared meats.

About $10 for 240 grams, widely available.

 

Vancouver Island Salt Co. Canadian Sea Salt

Photograph by Jared Sych

Unrefined and hand-harvested off the B.C. coast, locavores will love this on their table.

$8.29 for 227 g at Community Natural Foods, three locations in Calgary, communitynaturalfoods.com 

 

Get a weekly serving of suggestions for how to experience Calgary's restaurants, bars and markets by signing up for Avenue’s Food & Drink Newsletter.

Related posts

5 Things We’re Excited to Eat in April

Alana Willerton

Sharon Ruyter and Erin McQuitty | Calgary’s Food & Hospitality Game-Changers 2024

avenuecalgary

Filipino Restaurant Month Returns to Calgary in April

Alana Willerton

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Privacy Policy

Privacy & Cookies Policy
Avenue Calgary