Salt is an essential cooking ingredient, and we cannot imagine any savoury dish without it. From a simple salad to spicy chicken, every dish requires the seasoning of salt to get its true flavour. But its high intake can be harmful for your health. Sodium is one of the main elements in our regular salt, and according to Medline Plus, too much sodium can cause high blood pressure.
Eating a low-sodium diet helps keep the heart healthy. According to a report by the American Heart Association, an adult must not take more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. But do you think reducing salt means compromising on taste? Not really. There are many simple and easy ways to enhance the flavour of your food without adding any extra salt.
So, if you are also looking to reduce your salt intake, here are five ways to enhance the flavour of your food:
Fresh Herbs
They can add a lot of nutrients to your food, along with taste. Fresh herbs like parsley, mint, basil, and cilantro give a burst of flavour when added to any dish. They can be used for soups, curries, salads, and roasted as well as grilled dishes. Always add them at the end of the cooking so that they don’t lose their bright and fresh flavour.
Dried Spices
Spices are an integral part of Indian cooking. They give the food a warm and rich flavour. Some popular spices that can be used instead of salt are red pepper, cinnamon, clove, cumin, bay leaves, and paprika. You can either add them while cooking or at the end. These spices are best for flavouring chicken biryani, fish curry, chicken masala, and other non-vegetarian dishes. It can also be added to various soups, curries, and stews.
Lemon
Citrus zest and lemon juice are also known for giving food an amazing flavour. Adding lime or lemon at the end of preparing a meal elevates its flavour. You will also get a good dose of vitamin C from it. It can be used to season vegetables, salads, sauces, and grilled dishes. You can also add tangy lemon juice to pan-fried fish or chicken to enhance their flavour.
Vinegar
If you are looking to experiment with new flavours, then vinegar is perfect for you. You can replace salt with a variety of vinegars, such as apple cider, white and red wine, and balsamic. They give a salty flavour to your dish, and the best time to add them is at the end of cooking. You can use vinegar in stews, salads, marinades, braised vegetables, and noodles.
Add Heat
If you are fond of spicy foods, then this is the best way to flavour your dishes. Adding ginger and chillies (fresh or dried), gives the dish an amazing fragrance, flavour, and hotness. You can also experiment with different varieties of chillies. Add them to your stir-fries, braises, soups, rich curries, or any other dish. You can also mix them with other spices for better results.