basil salt

By The Culinary Chase | October 3, 2025 |

Finishing salts are a chef’s secret touch—added at the very end of cooking to heighten flavour, texture, and presentation. Unlike everyday table salt, these delicate salts bring subtle layers of taste and aroma, enhancing a dish rather than overpowering it. What I love most is their versatility: one simple recipe opens the door to endless variations. Basil salt stands out for its vibrant, herbaceous character. Simple to prepare yet remarkable in impact, it can be easily adapted with tarragon, rosemary, citrus zest, or even a lively chilli-lime combination. Basil salt takes minutes to make, keeps beautifully for up to six months, and instantly elevates everything from steak and seafood to watermelon and fresh salads.

you will need

2 cups fresh basil, roughly torn up if leaves are large
1 cup sea salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar (to help stabilise the colour)

method

Preheat oven to 250f. Place sea salt and basil in a food processor. Combine to blend. Pour onto a parchment-lined baking tray and roughly spread out the basil salt. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the basil salt to cool to room temperature. The basil will have dried, and the salt will be clumped together. Break up into chunks and pour the salt back into the food processor. Pulse until no lumps appear (less than a minute). Pour into a jar.