Herbal salt is a healthy and easy-to-prepare alternative that can help us reduce and control sodium intake. In this article we tell you how to prepare it and the benefits of using it in your dishes.
Contents
How to make herbal salt?
The procedure is very simple. To prepare your flavored salt at home, you will need fine table salt, dried aromatic herbs and spices to taste.
The recommended ratio is 1:1, i.e. for 50g of salt you will need 50g of dried herbs. If you want to reduce your salt intake even further, you can adjust the doses so that your flavored salt contains even less sodium.
To prepare the herb salt, you will need:
- Pulverize the dried herbs in a food processor.
- Put the salt and herbs in a bowl and mix well.
- Store the herbal salt in clean, resealable jars to lock in the aroma.
If you have a spice grinder, you can also mix salt, herbs and spices and grind them straight away for a more intense aroma.
3 herbal salt recipes
There are many aromatic herbs and spices, so there are also many possible combinations to prepare your herb salt.
Here are some examples:
1. Herb salt for salads
Mix salt with pink pepper and basil. Remember that the herbs must be dehydrated before mixing them with the salt. When preparing flavored salt for salads, you can reduce the amount of salt. Ideally, you should avoid salt in salads if you have high blood pressure. By using only aromatic herbs, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice, your salad will be very tasty without having to add sodium.
2. Flavored salt for roasts
Depending on the type of meat you are going to cook, you can use another type of aromatic herb. In the mix for white meats, for example, you can combine rosemary and sage. For red meats, oregano with thyme is very good.
3. Herbal salt for soups
Celery salt is ideal for flavoring soups. Also, you can add other herbs like rosemary, if desired, dehydrated garlic or onion, and thyme.
Why use herbal salt
According to the World Health Organization, the average daily salt intake is 10 grams per day per person. This amount is twice the recommended daily dose in a healthy diet.
Salt contains sodium and this, consumed in excess, can cause hypertension and damage to the circulatory system.
Herbal salt is a healthier option that helps reduce the amount of sodium in dishes and also encourages the consumption of healthy herbs and spices.
However, the WHO still warns that nearly 80% of sodium intake in the diet comes from processed foods. This is why, to control your salt consumption and get used to eating less, it is also essential to reduce the consumption of industrial ready meals.
Replacing table salt with herbal salt can be a first step in reducing dietary sodium intake. In addition, it will allow you to enjoy the aroma of aromatic plants and spices to flavor your dishes.