Fresh Herb Salt is so easy to make. The perfect way to preserve all those wonderful garden and market herbs.
This herb-infused salt recipe is easy to make. Fresh herbs and coarse salt are all you need. This makes a GREAT hostess gift!! Culinary herbs made right at home.
Fresh herbs are so wonderful to have, I wish I could grow them all year long. There are so many deliciously creative ways to use them.
- Flavoured simple syrup with spearmint is perfect for adding to drinks.
- Infused cream cheese is great for bagels an more.
- Flavoured mayo is a must for burgers, sandwiches and as a dip too.
- Parsley sauce is great for pasta, grilled veggies and meats.
- Freezing fresh herbs in cubes is the perfect way to preserve them for winter cooking.
If you are a fan of compound butter, this vibrant green salt using fresh herbs will be right up your alley.
Recently a good friend of mine messaged me and asked if I had ever heard of herb-infused salt? Other than processed seasonings you find at the store, I said no.
Well, this got me curious as to what she was talking about. She had seen them at the local market, so I had to find out what this DIY herbal salt is all about.
After some research on the web, I found out that this has been done for years. This is a way to preserve fresh herbs. It seems to be very popular in Quebec and eastern Canada. Also known as Herbes Salées, it is made around the world, and there are slight variations as to how this is done.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this herb seasoning can be found at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients For This Culinary Salt
For this flavoured salt recipe you will need:
- fresh herbs
- garlic
- coarse salt
- food processor (or sharp knife)
- clean glass jar
When it comes to preserving, I opt for simple. Like really simple. I am not a canner. The quick and easy method works for me. Pickled eggs, zucchini pickles, and pickled onions are all reallly easy recipes.
I am always looking for herb recipes, and this green salt is a pretty cool addition to your kitchen spice collection.
Making Fresh Herb Salt
I looked at several methods and recipes. Some include completely drying the fresh herb mix. Others include the addition of vegetables in the blend.
There is no right or wrong method of doing this. It all boils down to personal preference. Since I am a spice collector, trying to make herb salt seemed like a great idea.
The process is very easy and works well with all my other preserving methods.
Step 1
Wash the herbs, remove any stalks/stems, spread on a cloth and let dry. I let them sit on the counter for about an hour before I used them.
Step 2
Place about 3 cups of herbs in a food processor, and add the garlic and the coarse salt. Pulse until it resembles a coarse grind. Be sure not to over-process as you do not want a paste/puree texture.
If you do not want to use a food processor, you can do everything by hand. Chop the herbs and garlic. Add the salt and continue to chop until you reach a coarse consistency.
Step 3
At this point, you can place your mixture directly into a jar. If you want it to be drier, spread it in a single layer on a baking sheet and let it air dry for a bit. I placed mine right in the jar.
Be sure to give it a good mix every day for about the first week.
Types Of Herbs For Infused Salts
You can create your own signature blend using any herb combination you wish. That is the neat thing, each time you make it, the flavours can be different.
Herbs that work well include:
- parsley
- dill
- mint
- oregano
- sage
- thyme
- cilantro
- rosemary
- basil
- savory
- coriander
So many great options for creating unique flavoured salt recipes. This will now keep for months in the fridge. You have some incredible-tasting herbs to add to your favourite recipes.
One word of caution, it is SALTY so you may have to make adjustments to the amount of additional salt you add to recipes.
Tips For Preserving Herbs In Salt
- Be sure to remove woody stalks before processing.
- Herbs must be washed and left to dry before processing.
- Very salty, so use sparingly.
- Always keep it in the fridge (not on the counter).
- Let sit for at least 7 days before using to allow the flavours to develop.
- Lasts for months.
- Makes a great food gift.
- Be sure to use coarse sea salt.
- Can be used on pizza, in soups, stews, and as a herb rub for meat and vegetables.
FAQ (Questions And Answers)
Kept in the fridge in a sealed container, it will last 4-6 months.
Yes, you can. The cold temperature does not affect the shelf life of salt.
Rinse well under cold water. A salad spinner is a great way to clean fresh herbs. Let them dry on a kitchen towel.
So what do you think? Does this homemade seasoned salt recipe sound interesting?
Check out my recipe for Simple Roasted Tomatoes. Use the bounty of market tomatoes to easily create wonderful sauces all winter long.
Need some flavours for the grill? This BBQ Seasonings Roundup has everything you need.
If you LOVE making recipes using fresh herbs, give these a try:
Homemade Fresh Herb Salt
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh herbs loosely packed
- ½ cup coarse sea salt
- 1 clove fresh garlic or more if you wish
Instructions
- Wash herbs, remove stalks/stems.
- Arrange in a single layer on a towel.
- Let air dry for about an hour until all moisture is gone.
- Place herbs in the food processor.
- Add garlic and salt.
- Process until it reaches a coarse consistency (DO NOT over process).
- Place in a jar, and keep in fridge. Be sure to give it a good mix/stir daily for about the first week.
Nutrition Information
Notes
If you don’t want to use a food processor, you can chop the herbs and garlic by hand. Add the salt and continue to chop until you reach that coarse consistency. **NOTE** Serving Size is calculated at 2 TSP but you may require MORE or LESS. Keep in mind this is VERY SALTY.
Julie
What a great way to save summer herbs to use later! If you let the mixture dry out on a sheet for a little while, does it still have to be refrigerated?
Homemade & Yummy
I would keep it in the fridge for “long” keeping. This does last for quite a while.
prasanna hede
This is totally exciting me,never used something so fun! So easy and so wonderful.
Homemade & Yummy
It is a fun little project….and so many great uses too.
Ben Myhre
Well, that is a pretty neat way to use your herbs.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it sure is. Makes a great/interesting and tasty food gift too.
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
LOVE this idea. I have so many ideas that this herb salt would work for!! Plus the addition of garlic is just perfect. YUM.
Homemade & Yummy
It is fun to make and works on so many dishes. Great food gift too.
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
I’ve never thought to make herb salt. What a great way to infuse more flavor into food! I’m definitely going to do that this spring, once I have some fresh herbs in the garden
Homemade & Yummy
This is a really fun kitchen project…and makes a great food gift too.
Paige
What a wonderful and creative idea, and it seems pretty easy too! Love that it stays so long in the fridge..thanks for posting this one!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is a fun little project. The flavour is amazing too.
Helene
That’s the most vibrant herb salt I have ever come across. I love the green color! My aunt usually makes this and gives away jars full, I think so she ads marjoram. I can imagine all the uses already with your herb salt, that would be great with a fresh fish!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is fun to make and has so many delicious uses too.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
How fun!! I have never heard of this before! What a great way to enjoy herbs year round! I’ll be trying this for sure!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…and it makes a great food gift too.
Jessica Robinson
This is an amazing idea! I’ll be trying this method this coming summer/fall with some of the fresh herbs we grow on our farm.
Homemade & Yummy
Sure hope you give it a try….it is awesome.
Catherine Brown
What a GREAT idea! How long will this keep in the refrigerator?
Homemade & Yummy
I have kept it for several months.
Fred
This is such a brilliant idea Gloria! Sometimes we get fresh herbs from the store and because we don’t use as often they go bad. Grateful you shared!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much, hope you give it a try.
Diana
That is genius! I usually make herb butter, but never thought of making herb salt. Will have to try this.
Homemade & Yummy
It really is a great recipe.
Meghan | Fox and Briar
Love this! What a great way to infuse so much flavor into a dish!
Chef G
Yes it works very well.
Arlene Mobley
I love finding new ways to preserve fresh herbs! I have a huge rosemary plant and I know what I am going to do with it this weekend.
Chef G
Let me know how it goes Arlene!!
Melissa @ My Wife Can Cook
I love this! I am always looking for ways to preserve the fresh herbs we have in the garden once it gets cold out and first freeze warnings start to pop up.
Chef G
It is so easy…hope you give it a try.