Salt

Sel

What it is

The only rock we eat, and the only seasoning with no substitute. Roman soldiers were paid partly in it — salarium, the root of salary — and the gabelle, France's salt tax, was hated enough to be listed among the grievances of 1789.

In the kitchen

Salt early for anything you want seasoned through, late for anything you want to stay crisp. It draws water either way.

Goes with

Black pepper Butter Olive oil Lemon Tomato Radish Salted butter Maple syrup

Same species

Alaea red Hawaiian salt Sodium bicarbonate Fleur de sel de Guérande Himalayan pink salt Kala namak (Indian black salt) Kansui

Also used with

Ark shell Japanese tilefish (amadai) Barley koji Baru nut Beef tallow Bettarazuke

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