How to Make Flavored Salts (3 Edible Gift Ideas) (2024)

Posted: December 15, 2016 by lena gladstone | Updated: November 24, 2022

Learn How to Make Flavored Salts at home using sea salt and pantry-staple herbs and spices. You’ll find tips and tricks on making your own flavored salt, as well as 3 recipes to help get you started. Give them away as delicious homemade edible gifts or enjoy them yourself on popcorn, with meat and seafood, or stirred into scrambled eggs!

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This blog post was updated on December 15, 2022 but the recipe remains the same.

DIY flavored salt recipe

A sprinkle of finishing salt is one of the best ways to add a delicious flair to all of your meals. Instead of the usual table salt, add beautiful and refined flavors with flavored salts! This guide will teach you how to make flavored salts you can enjoy yourself or give away as unique edible gifts.

DIY flavored salts are simple – stir a pinch of the herbs, citrus, or spices of your choice into a jar of sea salt, then enjoy! Just a sprinkle is all you need to elevate your recipes. I love using flavored salts in dry rubs for baked salmon, to season roasted chicken, and to stir into scrambled eggs.

I’ve included 3 flavored salt recipes to help get you started:

1. Lemon, Thyme, and Rosemary Salt
2. Smoked Paprika Salt
3. Curry Salt

Each flavor variety is easy to jar and give away as gifts. Your teachers, family, friends, and neighbors are going to be very thankful for you this holiday season when they open their jar of flavored salts!

Keep reading to learn more about how to make flavored salt from scratch, endless ways to use them, and even more flavoring ideas.

What is infused salt?

It’s simple, really. Infused salt is any variety of salt that’s been flavored with add-ins, such as herbs, citrus zest, spices, and more. The salt and infusions work together to elevate each of their natural flavors.

Infused salt can be used anywhere you would use normal table salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. Because of its enhanced flavors, it can really take your meals up a notch.

Ingredients you need

Every infused salt recipe has at least two ingredients: salt and a mix-in. These mix-ins can be anything, from citrus to herbs to dried spices. Read the notes below before you start putting your own infusions together:

• Salt – You can use both coarse salt and fine salt to make flavored salt recipes. Coarse varieties, like sea salt, Maldon salt, or kosher salt, look very appealing once they’re mixed with their flavors. Regular table salt works in a pinch, but you’ll need to use a higher ratio of flavorings.
• Citrus zest – Dried citrus zest is one of my favorite seasonings for salts. While fresh citrus can be used in small batches, drying it first will extend the shelf life of your flavored salt. To dry, spread the citrus zest on a lined baking sheet. Either let it sit out for a few hours or place it in a 170ºF oven for 10 to 15 minutes, checking it every 5 minutes.
• Herbs – You can use fresh herbs instead of dried, but they’ll need to be dried out first. Just like the citrus, chop the herbs finely and lay them out on a lined baking sheet until dry.
• Dried spices – Smoked paprika and curry powder were my spices of choice, but you can use almost anything! Keep scrolling for more ideas.

How to make flavored salts

Always follow this ratio when putting your salt and flavors together: for every ¼ cup of salt, add 1 teaspoon of flavor.

1. Stir the salt and your flavor variations together in a bowl.
2. Use a funnel to pour the flavored salt into Weck Jars or small mason jars.
3. Seal the jars with a lid and tie a ribbon around each (if you’re giving them away as gifts), and they’re ready to be used!

More flavor variations

You can mix up the ingredients and flavors using any combination of these suggestions:

Citrus zest

• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Lime
• Orange

Fresh or dried herbs

• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Sage
• Oregano
• Basil
• Parsley

Dried spices

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Chili seasoning
• Paprika
• Chili flakes
• Za’atar

Ways to use infused salt

I’ve included uses for each of the three flavored salt variations below. Just know that they can be used in almost endless recipes, so feel free to get creative!

Lemon, Thyme, and Rosemary Salt

• To season chicken or seafood before it goes in the oven
• Stir it into pasta sauces
• Sprinkle a pinch over this Herbed Butter Board
• To season Air Fryer Potato Wedges
• Sprinkle some over Sauteed Broccolini

Smoked Paprika Salt

• In a dry rub for beef or pork
• To season Braised Short Ribs
• Sprinkled over a Spicy Shakshuka
• As a finishing salt on Eggs Benedict
• Rub it onto Grilled Chicken Skewers before cooking
• Stir a pinch into a Tuna Egg Salad

Curry Salt

• Sprinkled on popcorn
• Rubbed onto pork chops before cooking
• Stirred into this Coconut Curry Soup
• Stir a little with the roasted nuts of your choice
• Sprinkled over a plate of cooked edamame

Packaging salt for gifts

Transfer the finished salt into these pretty Weck jars or small mason jars. Tie a festive ribbon around each one and attach a label with the salt’s flavor. Finally, gift the jar of salt with a card that has a few ideas on how to use the infused salt.

How long does it last?

Flavored salt is one of the best homemade food gifts because of its long shelf life. The salt should last for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight jar or container at room temperature.

Looking for more edible holiday gifts?

• Holiday Charcuterie Board
• Classic Shortbread Cookies
• Refrigerator Dill Pickles
• Dark Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates
• Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

If you try these flavored salt recipes let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!