I am thrilled to share with you two uniquely flavored herb salt recipes that are a fantastic way to utilize fresh herbs from your garden. These herb salts not only enhance the flavor of your dishes but also make for wonderful, homemade gifts. The two recipes shown below are for a Basil Salt and a Garlic Herb Salt.
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Watch the video version of this recipe on my YouTube channel.
What Are Herb Salts?
Herb salts are essentially a blend of salt and herbs that are dried using a food dehydrator to create a versatile seasoning. They can be used to enhance the flavors of meats, veggies, popcorn, fries, and more. The beauty of herb salts is that you can customize them to suit your taste preferences. Using a food dehydrator ensures that your herbs are dried perfectly, preserving their flavor and color.
Supplies You'll Need
Before we dive into the recipes, let's go over the supplies you'll need:
- Food Dehydrator: Essential for removing the moisture from the fresh herbs. I use the London Sunshine brand six-tray food dehydrator. It's medium-sized and works perfectly. You can get a 10% discount on the same model that I use, with discount code Jerra and using my link: https://bit.ly/3SOhUXI
- Coarse Salt: My preference is coarse sea salt or coarse Celtic salt, but any coarse salt will do.
- Containers: Little containers to store your herb salts. I use mini 4oz glass containers from Amazon, which are perfect for gifting. You can find them HERE.
- Blender: A really good blender is necessary. I use a Ninja blender which you can find on Amazon HERE.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs for the basil salt and garlic herb salt. Ingredient quantities and directions are listed below.
Ingredient Preparation
Harvest your herbs in the early morning and soak them in water for a few minutes to remove any pests or insects. Then drain and dry.
Recipe 1: Basil Salt
- Preheat your food dehydrator to 131 degrees Fahrenheit and set it for 3 hours initially. You might need to adjust the time based on how well the herbs dry out.
- Remove the basil leaves from the stems, collecting two cups of fresh basil leaves for every 1 1/4 cups of coarse salt.
- Add the fresh basil leaves and salt into a blender and blend until the mixture resembles wet beach sand. Fresh herbs release their flavor and mix better with the salt as compared to using already dried herbs, while preserving a vibrant color.
- Pour the blended basil and salt mixture onto the dehydrator trays lined with parchment paper. Spread it in a thin layer and dehydrate for at least three hours.
- Once dried, funnel the mixture into a blender and blend it to a fine powder. Store in airtight jars.
Recipe 2: Garlic Herb Salt
- For this recipe you will need a total of 2 cups of the fresh herbs of your choice for every 1 1/4 cups of coarse salt, and peeled garlic cloves from 1 garlic bulb. I like to use a mixture of fresh rosemary, sage, chives.
- Remove the herb leaves from the stems, and peel the garlic.
- Add the fresh herbs, garlic cloves, and salt into the blender. Blend until fine. It should resemble wet beach sand. You might need to add more herbs and garlic cloves if the mixture is too dry, or add more salt if its too wet.
- Spread the mixture on dehydrator trays lined with parchment paper and dry for at least three hours, at 131 degrees Fahrenheit. If it does not feel dry after 3 hours, put back into the dehydrator for additional time.
- Once dry, funnel the dried mixture into the blender and blend to a fine powder. Store in airtight jars.
Storage and Usage
If stored in airtight containers and kept in a cool, dry, dark place, these herb salts should last about a year. Don’t forget to label your jars with the date and flavor.
These herb salts are incredibly versatile:
- Roasted Veggies: Sprinkle on top before roasting.
- Salad Dressings: Mix into your favorite dressing recipe.
- Grilled Meats: Use as a finishing touch.
- Butter: Combine with butter and spread on toast