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
I have herbs in my garden and was looking for a project to use some of them. THis one came out perfect. Such a great way to keep them!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Glad you enjoyed making this fresh herb salt seasoning.
Megan
This recipe is awesome, thank you for it. I would never have known how to do it, and we have so much mint growing. Such a fun way to spruce up dinner!!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Mint sounds like a wonderful herb to use in this seasoning recipe.
Mary
Gloria, do you think this would work if you used sugar? Would it be shelf stable and safe? I was thinking( hoping) mint sugar and lemon/ citrus zest for adding to drinks.
Thanks for some new ideas have had rosemary salt for years but never thought of basil or alternatives am going to make the mint salt and lemon up today to try on fish
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I do not see why this would not work with salt. Keep it in the fridge and it should be as stable as the salt version. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.
Gina Abernathy
I love this idea! Never thought about making my own fresh herb salt. This year I planted my herbs in hanging baskets on my back porch. This makes it a lot easier to walk out the back door and grab what I need when cooking. Definitely going to try this!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love my fresh herbs, and always find creative ways to use them.
Kerri
I love how versatile this recipe is! I bet this is delicious paired with steak! Can’t wait to try!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
It does make a great seasoning in lots of different applications.
Toni
I really loved it! So easy and healthy!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Glad you enjoyed making this DIY herb salt.
Kate
What a fab idea – I’ve been growing lots of my own herbs this year and this is a perfect way to preserve and gift them, thanks!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I totally agree, a bottle of this salt made with fresh herbs is the perfect food gift.
Giangi Townsend
Such a lifesaver! I have so many fresh herbs, oregano, thyme, basil, and marjoram, in my garden and I cannot wait to follow this recipe. Thank you for sharing
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Glad you found this fresh herb salt helpful. ENJOY!
Kayla DiMaggio
This fresh herb salt is delicious! I loved how easy it was to make and it turned out so perfect! I loved seasoning steak with it!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, this herb salt made with fresh herbs is so easy and delicious.
Bernice
I have so many herbs growing in my garden this year. I was just saying the other day how I wanted to try making herb salt with them! This post appearing is definitely great timing. Thanks Gloria!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad I could help you out with your garden herbs. Making this fresh herb salt is the perfect plan. ENJOY!
Keri
I put fresh cilantro and thai basil together and it was fantastic. I’m going to use it for a rub. Thanks so much for the great tips and instructions.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This herb salt would be the perfect rub for meat.
Alena
There are so many fresh herbs in my garden and I can’t wait to make this herb salt! What a great way to use up the herbs AND flavor my food!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is such a great way to use all those fresh herbs from the garden.
Carrie Robinson
This is such a great idea! I bet it would be amazing on corn on the cob! 🙂
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I bet it would too. Let me know when you give it a try.
Misty Eilar
My herb garden is taking off and I have been looking for ways to use all of it. This is perfect. I can’t wait to make more.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this recipe a try. Perfect for any herbs. Mix and match to make a great combination.
Uma
Yes I agree this is the perfect way to preserve all wonderful garden herbs. I have a bunch of them. Will follow your recipe. Thank you
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
It is a fun recipe for sure. ENJOY!