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Ingredient Spotlight: Lavender Sea Salt

2009_05_11-Salt00.jpgLook at this lovely lavender salt given to me by a friend. It's a wet, rough salt with all the herbal fragrance of lavender infused in big, flaky chunks of salt. It's absolutely delicious, but I also want more inspiration for creative ways to use it.

 
 

2009_05_11-Salt.jpgLike the truffle salt Elizabeth mentioned earlier today, flavored are a great way to add a little special something to otherwise simple dishes. One thing I have done (and loved) with this lavender salt is smeared crackers with a little bit of soft goat cheese, drizzled some honey on top, then sprinkled with just a tiny pinch of lavender salt crystals.

But I'd love more ideas, too. Have you ever used lavender salt, and if so, on what?

Buy it: Lavender Sea Salt, $3.95 at The Girl & The Fig

Related: Recipe: Fig and Lavender Goat Cheese Galettes

(Images: Faith Durand)

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Ingredients - Pantry, herbs, salt, lavender

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Comments (11)

There once was a little place in San Francisco called Chez Nous that showed how a little lavender sea salt could enhance the delicate flavor of lamb chops.

Not to dwell on SF but I must give credit where it is due. There is a rotisserie at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market that sprinkles lavender salt on their rotisserie meats which are accompanied by roasted fingerling potatoes.

I have sprinkled it on roasted venison with great results.

I believe that my wife, Chelsea, has sprinkled it on cookies.

posted by art on May 11th 2009 at 3:19pm
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I've never used it, but I bet it would be a fantastic salt to use in making chocolate salted caramels.

posted by GreenCayennes on May 11th 2009 at 3:23pm
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I use my lavender sea salt to sprinkle on fresh papaya with lime juice.

posted by mangabanga on May 11th 2009 at 3:39pm
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I was going to suggest putting it on a roasted chicken but Art beat me to it. I bet it would be good if you salted lemons with it, too.

Art, if you mean that little French Provincial place, it has sadly closed. If you don't, I'd love to know where you do mean. I work near the Ferry Building and the roasts sound delicious.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on May 11th 2009 at 3:57pm
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Yes Tiamat_the_Red, it's the same place. I also learned of another place within the company to close, Le Petit Robert. Same owner, same philosophy. Oh well, at least there is still good bread to be had from them at Bay Bread/Boulangerie.

The place at the market is called Roli Roti. Make sure you ask for the sea salt!
http://www.roliroti.com/

posted by art on May 11th 2009 at 5:11pm
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Try sprinkling on a chocolate bar to see if you like the flavor combo- one of the artisan chocolatiers around here has a lavender sea salt bar (the flakes of salt are sprinkled over when it is cooling).
I agree with GreenCayenne that it would be tops with caramel, but not the easiest option.

I suppose the easiest option would be to sprinkle it over anything with hot fudge/chocolate sauce. :)

However, the first thing I would do with it is make this fantastic Fleur de Sel Toffee - http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/fleur-de-sel-toffee

posted by Rachelino on May 11th 2009 at 7:14pm
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Before cooking:
Roast chicken: Zuni's recipe is the best I've ever had
After cooking:
Halibut
Roasted vegetables and quinoa
Popcorn
Fiori di sicilia caramels (chocolate covered or plain)
Or:
Grind a little finer and rim the glass for a lime or orange margarita

posted by Rucy on May 11th 2009 at 9:05pm
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@Art, Thanks!

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on May 11th 2009 at 10:13pm
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yummmmm great ideas - especially Rucy's suggestion for a margarita!!!

posted by little flower on May 12th 2009 at 12:46am
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I know lassi is a salted herbal yogurt drink. I bet it would be good in that.

posted by Piri on May 12th 2009 at 10:23am
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I use it on salted fudge brownies. Other than that I think the only thing I've done with it is mix it into a pasta sauce with ramps and cream.

posted by jm chen on May 12th 2009 at 11:46am
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