Bright pink Himalayan salt stands apart in the foreground compared to other salts.
Bright pink Himalayan salt stands apart from white table salts. Himalayan salt often comes in a solid block form which gives the user several options for using the salt rock. Though it still tastes like salt, the vivid coloring of Himalayan salt and its solid structure make it a worthwhile item to have in any home. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Cooking Dish
Since it is a rock, a large slab of Himalayan salt is heat- and cold-proof. You can bake foods directly on it in the oven rather than using a baking pan. The salt lends a light seasoning to the food as it cooks rather than making it taste overly salty. Alternatively, preheat the salt slab on a grill and sear meats over it as you would a hot skillet.
The salt slab used for baking can be placed on a trivet in the center of the table directly from the oven for serving, but the salt will remain piping hot long after being removed from the oven. Avoid placing directly in front of guests to prevent burns. Rinse the salt block and wipe dry to remove the top layer of salt for cleaning. Over several cleanings, your Himalayan salt block will shrink in size.
Serving Platter
Chill the slab of salt in the freezer for two hours. Use it to serve cold salads, butter or desserts. The light saltiness will act as a flavor enhancer on a sweet dessert, so even ice cream served atop a pink Himalayan salt block will taste better. This is reminiscent of the sweet-salty flavor combination seen in saltwater taffy or sea salt caramels.
Seasoning
Break apart a whole block of Himalayan salt to fit into a salt mill and grind to an appropriate sized grain for the table. Alternatively, place a small block of Himalayan salt with a rasp next to a plate. "Grate" the salt over your food to add flavor instead of using a salt shaker. Himalayan salt lacks added iodine or other artificial additives, so it imparts a purer flavor to your food.
Bath Products
Replace sea salt in bath salt and scrub recipes with an equal amount of coarsely ground Himalayan pink salt. You will not need to add any artificial colors to create a visually aesthetic bath product. For a soothing bath, add one to two lbs. of ground Himalayan salt to a full bathtub and soak to relieve pain and muscle aches.
Minor Health Treatments
Clear your breathing passages when you have a cold by adding Himalayan salt to boiling water and inhaling the steam. Put your head over the steam and cover with a towel to keep the steam enclosed in the area. Breathe the vapors for 10 to 15 minutes to clear minor congestion in the nose and breathing passages. This is not a substitute for medicines used to treat more severe breathing problems such as bronchitis or asthma. Continue to take those medications as directed by your physician. Steam breathing is a temporary technique for improving breathing. If your breathing does not improve, call a doctor immediately.
Combine Himalayan salt with tepid water so the salt dissolves. Soak a clean washcloth in this saltwater and place it over a minor cut or scrape. Cover the wound and call a doctor immediately if bleeding is severe or if you suspect a broken bone.
Tags: Himalayan salt, pink Himalayan, pink Himalayan salt, salt block, block Himalayan, block Himalayan salt