SALT
Salt is a mineral substance,primarily composed of Sodium. Scientific name is Sodium Chloride (NaCl). Salt is essential for the animal life and is one of the basic human tastes.
Salt is majorly produced from salt mines or mineral rich spring water in shallow pools.Salt is used in many industrial process and religious ceremony.The edible salt is sold most commonly in the form of sea salt and table salt,normally iodized to prevent iodine deficiency.
SALT IN COOKING
Every great dish deserves a fair amount of salt
Salt is added not just for the flavour only,it can help draw moisture out of sweating vegetables,softens the ingeidients faster,can help denature the proteins.Without salt food can taste bland.
Salt is universally used for seasoning.Salt usage is more in Western European countries.Used for brining, curing meat and fish delicacies.In East Asia,salt is often used a condiment.
There are mainly six different varieties of salt,famous around the world.
- Crystalline Sea Salt:-Fine or coarse in texture.Adds pungent-burst flavour to just-cooked foods.It varies in coulour depending upon the minerals it contains.
- Flaked Sea Salt:-Sheer,soft,pyramid like flakes.Best if used with steam vegetables and shell fish.It adds a briny flavour to the dish.
- Rok Salt:-Large,chunky,nonuniform crystals.Making ice cream and deicing. Rock salt is paired with ice in old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream makers to regulate the
temperature. You can also use it to deice your sidewalks and driveway in the winter months.
- Kosher Salt*:-Coarse intexture.It is used in all cooking.Kosher-strict Jewish dietary law.The word Kosher means "permitted" in Hebrew.
- Pickiling Salt:-Normally fine granular in texture.Used for making Brining solutios,pickling.Caution-more salty than any other saly.You may have to use less if used in cooking.
- Fleur de Sel:-Crystalline in texture.It has got earthy pleasing flavour.Used as a table salt,sprinkled over the food just before the food.
There are many more varities of salt available in the market.Salt is fortified to get flavours.Examples are Mushroom flavored,Paprika flavoured etc.Black salt is very common in India.Black salt is used in making Pani puri liquid for the Pani Puri.
HEALTH AND SALT
Excess in consumption may raise blood pressure and increases the risks of heart attacks and strokes. An adult should not consume more than 5 gm of salt per day.
Can you believe it !!! an Asian restaurant named SALT, in Maldives,uses salt bricks for serving a fish dish and salt bowls for serving salads. http://kihavah-maldives.anantara.com/
Find the pictures below..
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| Barramudi being served on Salt block.... |
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| Salt dispenser's .... |
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Salt bowl and blocks...
The famous Salt variants are:
Cypress black lava flake salt:
comes from Cyprus in the Meditearranean sea. Salt is combined with charcoal which adds color and flavor to the salt. Flaky in texture, strong in flavor. Used strictly as a finishing salt for grilled meat and fish.
Sel Gris:
also known as Celtic salt,comes from France.Grey in color, gets it's color from the minerals absorbed from the clay.Good with salads and peanuts. Sumtom,green papaya salad from Thailand can be paired with Sel gris.
Bali Coconut and Lime soaked salt:
from Bali sea,Indonesia. Coconut and kaffir lime leaves used as a flavoring agent. Goes very well with fish and seafood.
Murray River Pink Salt:
mild flavored Australian salt is a good sources of Magnesium and Calcium. Very good with seafood. Yam talay,famous Thai seafood salad is well paired with murray river pink salt.
Himalaya pink Salt:
comes from Himalaya, pink in color. Himalayan salt bricks,plates and bowls are used for cooking, serving and entertainment as well. Considered as the most purest form of salt in the world. Good to be served with poultry dishes.
Kala Namak:
from India,black in color. It's health benefits made it very famous arounf the world. Good for weight reduction, prodeuces good dental hygiene. Is a rock salt infused with herbs and spices. Famous in Indian cuisine. Serves good with seafood and Asian style noodles.
Hiwa Kai:
Hawain style sea salt, black in color. Mostly used as a finishing salt. Good with salads, meats and seafood.
Porccini Mushroom salt:
nutty,robust flavored salt .This porccini mushroom flavored salt is good for poultry,beef and veal. Most chefs prefer to use to this salt as a finishing salt.
Salish smoked salt:
organic pacific sea salt, smoked over alderwood for flavoring. Try this with Salmon and red meat.
Trapani salt:
comes from Trapani, Sicily ,Italy. Rich in Iodine,Flurine and Magnesium. Goes very good with seafood.
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HAPPY COOKING. Enjoy!!!
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