Flavoured salts, also known as finishing salts, are a great way of adding flavour during cooking and, of course, when finishing a dish.
Whilst it’s true that salt is salt, most commercially sold salt contains about 2% of something else and that 2% is enough to make a huge difference to flavour (not to mention texture). Table salt contains anti-caking agents, and may also contain iodide, and whilst these aren’t really detectable (to me) when it’s used in cooking, they certainly can be when salt is used to finish a dish. Even for reasons of texture alone, it’s nicer to sprinkle some crystallised salt over freshly sliced tomatoes than table salt.
Some natural salts contain traces of the earth from which they were mined, which can give earthy mineral flavours as well as affect their texture. Likewise, sea salt often retains other elements that were dissolved in the water.
It’s also becoming increasingly popular to mix in additional flavourings such as herbs, citrus peel, mushrooms, chilli and other spices. Smoked salt is also widely available.
Steenbergs Organic is a North Yorkshire-based family-run business committed to “providing organic spices and organic cooking ingredients packed with flavour, aroma and provenance”.
Steenbergs sell a range of salts including (naturally occuring) coloured salts, sea salts and finishing salts and salt blends. They sent me a selection of their range to try.
So far I’ve tried the Happy Hippy Flower Salt, which looks beautiful sprinkled over a plate of fresh, sliced tomatoes. It also gives a lovely crunch and a delightful floral flavour.
The Smoked Sea Salt is gorgeous for anything you think would benefit from a hint of smoke. I like it sprinkled over courgettes grilled on the barbecue or onto a tasty steak after it’s cooked and rested.
The Salt & Herbs For Poultry brought our most recent roast chicken dinner to life. The mix is 83% salt with the balance made up of black pepper, chives, parsley and tarragon; a quick and delicious way to add a touch of flavour.
Kavey Eats received a sample set of salts from Steenbergs Organic.
Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you!67 Comments to "Steenbergs Flavoured Salts"
I’d love to make some luxurious scrambled eggs with cream and butter and top it with some truffle salt.
I’ve tweeted you on Twitter too.
Hope you have an amazing weekend Kavey!
*kisses* H
I’d love to rub Steenberg’s smoked sea salt into a nice fillet of white fish – something like hake. Then fry it til the skin’s crispy and serve it with some pasta, mixed with wilted spinach, tossed in oil and sprinkled with a little truffle salt.
Hello there – I entered this competition over on Facebook too. Shereen Taylor.
I have my own recipe for salt with flowers, a recipe I created for Sarah Raven last year, but would be keen to see what Steenberg’s variety was like! I am always happy to promote a Yorkshire company too…..Karen
Already follow on Twitter!
Liked your FaceBook page too!
I have liked on facebook as Lancashire Food
Idea for truffle salt, use on roast chicken or foccacia
With winter heading this way, I think seasoning steaks with smoked salt before grilling would give them a “barbecued in the sunshine” flavour.
Following you on Facebook Jane Willis
I would use it with chicken!
I’d use the smoked sea salt in a Spanish omelette.
Liked on Facebook (Maya Russell)
Tweeted as @maisietoo
I already use flavoured salts, one of my favourite being sea salt with coriander and rose petals, which is great with the duck, and roast veg.
The smoked sea salt over barbequed courgettes sounds like a lovely idea. I think I’d like to try it to add interest to my homemade bbq sauce.
Happy Hippy Flower salt on creme fraiche and tomato filled avocado halves.
I think truffle salt with a mushroom risotto would be lovely
I would experiment adding flavour and texture to an assortment of roasted vegetables.
I would use smoked sea salt in a dark chocolate sauce poured over brownies 🙂 x
I would use it to make some salted caramel. yum yum
Margarita sea salt sprinkled on watermelon slices to enhance the flavour 🙂
I’d sprinkle some over some homemade crackers just before I baked them, different flavoured salt for different shaped crackers.
Stir it into olive oil and leave it to infuse into the oil, then use it as a drizzle on salads.
I’ve never given the flavour of salt a thought until recently when I bought some Pink Himalaya, what an eye opener!
I think the Hippy Salt would be amazing on a piece of trout as it wouldn’t overpower the flavour but give it that edge it sometimes lacks
Follow on Facebook as Kirsten Murphy
Roasted Chicken with a fragrant crunch!
London Bakes has an amazing recipe for smoked sea salt and sark chocolate cookies. I’ve not found anyone who isn’t surprised by how good they are.
I like you on FB
I have liked your page on FB – https://www.facebook.com/SHBABE
I have retweeted on Twitter. My twitter handle is @JaynesDen
I’d use the Pink Himalayan for salt baked veggies.
Hi!
I would make salted caramel, and use all of the different salts to influence the flavours. I love the idea of floral caramel, and I have a suspicion that the smoked salts would really pack a punch!
Sara
id love to try these i love flavours and spices and new tastes!
I’d like to try trhe flower salt in a salted caramel toffee
I would love to try the smoked sea salt on gammon and parsley sauce! xxxxx
I have liked the facebook page, too! xxxx
Hi, i’d use the truffle salt to mushroom risotto
Oh I love this, I’ve tried other flavoured salts before now but some of these flavour combos look amazing, I would definitely use the smoked salt on a roast chicken or perhaps try it with roasted courgettes, peppers and onions!
My facebook name is Gingey Bites! Thanks 🙂
I would use it in lamb tagine
I’ve never used flavoured salts before but I think I’d try the chicken one on a roast chicken first.
I’ve liked on FB. Corina Blum
Sprinkled over the roast potatoes
Just sprinkled over a juicy steak
These look lovely, I would try some sprinkled on pork chops. The flower ones I think
Definately on chicken, but would like to try them out on chops too
I’d try some sea salt caramel recipes
I like you on facebook. Rachel Blackburn
The smoked salt with baked large field mushrooms and stilton
I Love smoked salt, it’s really great as a finishing for your home baked Focaccia and even sprinkled over your fresh popcorn for a savoury nibble
Also liked on FaceBook using Bohdan Kuczynski
Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
I would try homemade crisps and sprinkle some on.
Liked on Facebook as Emma Lewis
I would use the smoked sea salt to rub into a lovely roast pork crackling joint. The crackling would taste amazing 🙂
Facebook name Lynn Doe 🙂
I would make a red quinoa Tabouli salad with mint, flat leaf parsley, almonds, chopped dried apricots, lemon, olive oil – finished with happy hippy flower salt and a handful of calendula petals.
Would try Smoked Sea Salt on the fish :}
Liked on Facebook :}
I’d rub the smoked sea salt on chicken thighs to add extra smokiness to them, before barbequing them
Liked on FB – Victoria N
I would love to cook a smoked fish with these, fingers crossed
Has to be home made pork crackling..so simple rubbed in olive oil and course salt ..yummmy These look amazing!
use the truffle salt to eat boiled eggs with
That Chicken looks good 🙂
Love to bake whole snapper with garlic, tomatoes, fennel & olive oil & crystalised salt would be great with this.
Liked on Facebook
Following on twitter