How Should I Use This Pink Japanese Rock Salt?

Earlier this week I reported on my visit to a depachika (or basement gourmet food hall) in a Tokyo department store. While I was there, I impulsively picked up a small, edible souvenir: a lump of pink rock salt.

But now that I'm home, I'm unsure of the best way to enjoy this tiny treasure. I'm wondering if there are any readers out there who might offer some advice...

You'll see by the top picture that it's a smallish nugget, a little bigger than a grape, but something short of an apricot. It's tinted a rich, salmon-y pink...

The salt comes packaged with its own fine-toothed stainless steel grater.

Good for for finishing summer salads maybe? What do you think?

(Images: Nora Maynard)

Comments (10)

When you grate it does it retain it's color? Might look nice on white fish or rice.

posted by Squirrely on July 1st 2009 at 1:39pm
view Squirrely's profile

Salmon sashimi with a tiny squirt of lemon juice and a sprinkle of freshly-grated pink salt. I also use mine over jicama or any other pale food, the color on that is so rich...it will definitely pop. I've even done it on vanilla ice cream with bananas.

posted by mangabanga on July 1st 2009 at 1:42pm
view mangabanga's profile

here's a portland shop devoted to salt:
http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

i was there a couple weeks ago and they had himalayan salt blocks (probably similar) with loads of recommendations. their website should be helpful.

posted by fivealive1969 on July 1st 2009 at 1:57pm
view fivealive1969's profile

use it grated to sprinkle on these cookies: http://www.doriegreenspan.com/2009/02/tuesdays-with-dorie-world-peace-cookies.html

posted by nephils on July 1st 2009 at 5:35pm
view nephils's profile

recipe can also be found here:

http://cookbookhabit.blogspot.com/2009/02/tuesdays-with-dorie-world-peace-cookies.html

posted by nephils on July 1st 2009 at 5:37pm
view nephils's profile

Beautiful for rimming a cocktail. Mmmm.

posted by Jilly on July 1st 2009 at 5:38pm
view Jilly's profile

These are all great suggestions everyone. Thanks so much!

Nora

posted by nora on July 1st 2009 at 6:30pm
view nora's profile

what about on home made caramels

posted by Icanmakeit on July 2nd 2009 at 10:01am
view Icanmakeit's profile

I've never seen anything like that! A friend brought us pink salt from Hawaii and I've wondered what to do with it.

posted by tasterspoon on July 2nd 2009 at 7:24pm
view tasterspoon's profile

My friend brought me back two big chunks of pink Himalayan salt from Tokyo, but mine didn't come with a grater. I haven't used it yet because I'm afraid it'll dull or scratch my rasp!

posted by emmaduck on July 3rd 2009 at 12:58pm
view emmaduck's profile