How to Make Herbal Salt with Fresh Garden Herbs
Herbal salt is an easy way to preserve fresh herbs while creating a flavorful homemade seasoning you'll use all year long. This simple recipe combines coarse salt with herbs from the garden, making it perfect for roasted vegetables, eggs, meats, and more. Learn how to make herbal salt, the best herbs to use, and simple ways to customize it to suit your favorite flavors.
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If you've spent any time in my herb garden, you know I hate letting a good harvest go to waste. When the basil is overflowing, the rosemary needs trimming, or the chives seem determined to take over, one of my favorite ways to preserve all that fresh flavor is by making herbal salt.
This simple blend of fresh herbs and coarse salt transforms everyday meals with very little effort. Sprinkle it over roasted vegetables, eggs, potatoes, grilled meats, or even buttered bread for an instant boost of flavor. It also makes a thoughtful homemade gift tucked into a small jar and tied with a bit of kitchen twine.
Whether you're working with rosemary and thyme, basil and parsley, or whatever abundance your garden is offering, herbal salt is an easy way to capture the taste of the season and enjoy it long after the harvest is over.
At a Glance: Herbal Salt
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- Flavor: Savory, herbaceous, and endlessly customizable
- Best for: Preserving an abundance of fresh garden herbs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Drying Time: 4 hours or overnight
- Yield: About 2 cups
- Difficulty: Easy
- Key Ingredients: Fresh herbs and coarse sea salt
- Great Herbs to Use: Rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, oregano, parsley, and chives
- Ways to Use It: Sprinkle on eggs, roasted vegetables, potatoes, meats, bread, popcorn, and salads
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months
- Makes a Wonderful Gift: Package in small jars with a handwritten tag for a thoughtful homemade present
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What is herbal salt?
Herbal salt is a simple blend of fresh herbs and salt that's used to add flavor to everyday cooking. Think of it as a homemade seasoning that captures the taste of your herb garden in a jar. By combining herbs with coarse salt, you not only create a versatile pantry staple, but also preserve the flavors of the season to enjoy long after the harvest is over.
One of the things I love most about herbal salt is how adaptable it is. You can make it with rosemary and thyme for roasted potatoes, basil and parsley for summer dishes, or chives for sprinkling over eggs and buttered bread. Whether you're trying to use up an abundance of fresh herbs or looking for a thoughtful homemade gift, herbal salt is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to bring garden flavor into your kitchen.
Why you'll love this herbal salt recipe
- A delicious way to preserve fresh herbs. If your garden is overflowing with basil, rosemary, chives, or thyme, herbal salt helps you capture those flavors to enjoy long after the growing season ends.
- Simple to make. With just two main ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you'll have a homemade seasoning blend ready to use or gift.
- Easy to customize. Mix and match your favorite herbs to create blends that suit your cooking style and the season.
- Adds flavor to everyday meals. Sprinkle it over eggs, roasted vegetables, potatoes, grilled meats, buttered bread, and more for an instant boost of garden-fresh flavor.
- Makes a thoughtful homemade gift. Tucked into a small jar with a handwritten tag, herbal salt is a practical and heartfelt way to share your harvest with friends and family.
- Stores beautifully. Keep a jar in your pantry and enjoy the taste of your herb garden for months to come.
Ingredients you'll need
You only need two simple ingredients to make herbal salt, and chances are you already have both on hand.
Coarse Sea Salt (or Kosher Salt): Coarse salt works best because its larger crystals blend beautifully with fresh herbs and help preserve their flavor. Sea salt offers a clean, natural taste, while kosher salt is an easy pantry staple that works just as well. Avoid iodized table salt, which can have a harsher flavor and finer texture.
Fresh Herbs: This is where you can get creative and use what your garden is giving you. Rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, oregano, parsley, and chives all make wonderful herbal salts. Choose herbs that are fresh and free of excess moisture for the best flavor and longest shelf life.
The best herbs for herbal salt
When making herb salt, it's important to choose herbs that complement each other and the dish you will be using them in. Some popular herbs to use in herb salt include rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, and sage. You can also experiment with other herbs like cilantro, parsley, and dill.
When selecting your herbs, make sure they are fresh and dry. Fresh herbs will provide the best flavor, but if you don't have access to fresh herbs, you can use dried herbs instead. To dry fresh herbs, simply hang them upside down in a dry, dark place until they are completely dry. For more information visit my helpful article, How to Dry and Store Your Homegrown Herbs.
Choosing the right salt
The type of salt you choose can slightly change the flavor and texture of your finished herbal salt. Coarse sea salt and kosher salt are both excellent options because their larger crystals blend well with fresh herbs and help create a more balanced seasoning.
Sea salt has a clean, natural flavor that lets the herbs shine, while kosher salt is a pantry staple that's easy to work with and widely available. You can also use Himalayan pink salt if you enjoy its subtle mineral flavor and beautiful color.
Whichever salt you choose, avoid iodized table salt. Its fine texture and stronger flavor can overpower the herbs and affect the overall taste of your blend.
Classic herb salt recipes
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to add flavor to your dishes, herb salt is a great option. Here are two classic herb salt recipes that you can make at home.
Homemade rosemary salt
Rosemary and thyme are two herbs that go well together in many dishes, and this herb salt recipe is no exception. To make rosemary thyme salt, you'll need:
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Coarse Sea salt
- 4 sprigs of Fresh Rosemary ( you may use 2-3 tablespoons dried rosemary if you prefer)
- Kitchen string (optional for decoration)
- Small wooden spoon (optional for decoration)
Supplies:
- Measuring cups
- Mason Jar
- Food Processor
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment paper
Making the salt:
- To measure the correct amount of salt, carefully pour it into the ball jar.
- Strip the rosemary needles from the stems.
- Place the salt and the rosemary in a food processor.
- Pulse the ingredients 5-10 times, or until the herbs are ground to your desired texture.
- If you're using fresh herbs, evenly spread the mixture on a cookie sheet (covered with parchment paper - optional). Leave the sheet out to dry for a few hours otherwise, the salt will clump.
Note: If you are using 2-3 tablespoons of dried rosemary, you can skip step number 5. Additionally, if you do not have a food processor, a blender or a clean coffee grinder will work.
Rosemary salt is perfect for seasoning roasted meats, vegetables, and potatoes. You can also sprinkle it on top of bread dough before baking for a delicious homemade herb bread.
Lemon basil salt
If you're looking for a bright and fresh herb salt recipe, lemon basil salt is a great option. To make lemon basil salt, you'll need:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup coarse sea salt
- Zest of 1 lemon
Making the salt:
- Combine the basil, salt, and lemon zest in a food processor and pulse until the herbs are finely chopped and well combined.
- Spread the herb salt mixture out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the salt is completely dry.
- Let the herb salt cool, then store it in an airtight container.
Lemon basil salt is perfect for seasoning fish, chicken, and vegetables. You can also sprinkle it on top of popcorn for a delicious and unexpected snack.
Try these herbal salt variations
Garlic Herb Salt: Blend fresh parsley, rosemary, and a few cloves of garlic with coarse sea salt for a savory seasoning that's delicious on roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables, meats, and homemade garlic bread. If using fresh garlic, be sure to dry the mixture thoroughly before storing.
Chive Blossom Herbal Salt: Looking for a beautiful way to preserve those fleeting spring blooms? Combine chive blossoms with coarse salt to create a lightly onion-flavored seasoning with a lovely blush tint. Sprinkle it over eggs, baked potatoes, buttered bread, or fresh summer tomatoes. It's one of my favorite ways to capture a little bit of the garden long after the chive blossoms have faded.
Ways to use herbal salt
One of the best things about herbal salt is how easily it elevates everyday meals. Use it anywhere you'd normally reach for salt to add an extra layer of garden-fresh flavor.
Try herbal salt:
- Sprinkled over roasted vegetables and potatoes
- As a finishing salt for grilled meats and fish
- Mixed into scrambled eggs or omelets
- Stirred into cooked grains like rice, quinoa, or polenta
- Added to pasta water for subtle herb flavor
- Seasoning homemade bread or pizza dough
- Tossed with butter for warm bread
- Scattered over fresh summer tomatoes
- Sprinkled on popcorn for an easy snack
Once you start keeping a jar on the counter, you'll find yourself reaching for it almost daily.
How to store herbal salt
To keep your herbal salt fresh and flavorful, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Properly dried herbal salt can last for several months, making it a wonderful way to preserve the flavors of your garden harvest.
A few simple tips:
- Allow herbal salt made with fresh herbs to dry completely before storing to prevent clumping.
- Avoid humid environments, which can introduce moisture and shorten its shelf life.
- Use a clean, dry spoon when scooping from the jar.
- Label jars with the herb blend and date so you can easily recreate your favorites.
While dried herbs can be used to make herbal salt, fresh herbs provide the brightest flavor and color, especially during the height of the growing season.
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Learn how to harvest your herbs for the best flavor
Rosemary Herbal Salt
Equipment
- 1 Food Processor
- 1 Baking sheet
- 1 Parchment paper
- 1 Airtight jar for storage
Ingredients
- 2 cups coarse sea salt
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, stems removed
Instructions
- Measure the coarse sea salt into a food processor.
- Strip the rosemary needles from the stems.
- Add the rosemary to the food processor with the salt.
- Pulse 5 to 10 times, until the rosemary is finely chopped and evenly distributed throughout the salt.
- Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Allow the rosemary salt to air dry for at least 4 hours, or overnight, stirring occasionally, until completely dry.
- Transfer to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
Notes
- If using dried rosemary, substitute 2 to 3 tablespoons and skip the drying step.
- Fresh rosemary creates the most vibrant flavor and color.
- If using dried rosemary, there is no need to dry the finished mixture before storing.
- Rosemary herbal salt is delicious sprinkled over roasted potatoes, chicken, focaccia, grilled vegetables, and buttered bread.
- Package it in a small jar with a handwritten tag for an easy homemade gift.
Nutrition
I hope these flavored salt ideas showed how achievable infusing your own is! Start simply by pulsing fresh ingredients like garlic cloves to make your own garlic salt or lime zest with coarse salt for a refreshing herb mixture. Then advance to mixing custom salad topper blends dialing in favorite herbs, salts and zests like a seasoned pro over time.
Please tag or email me your fabulous homemade herb salt successes. And contact me if any questions arise about harvesting, blending or deploying these humble yet impactful pantry powerhouse staples.
Find more herb-inspired DIYs in the Herb Index.
Happy Seasoning!
