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If you've ever heard your favourite baker or patissier talk about Maldon salt or Fleur De Sel, you may be wondering what they are. They're finishing salts, which can add a sense of finesse to elevated desserts. Finishing salts are a type of speciality salt used to add a final touch of flavour and texture to a dish just before it is served.
Unlike regular table salt or cooking salts, which dissolve during the cooking process, finishing salts retain their distinct structure and flavour when sprinkled over food. These salts are typically coarser, flakier, and often have a unique mineral composition that contributes to their taste and appearance. They are sourced from different parts of the world and can be naturally flavoured or infused with other ingredients, adding a subtle complexity to dishes.
Finishing salts are often more mineral-rich than regular table salt, which can give them a more complex flavour. They provide a burst of salinity that enhances the taste of food without overpowering it. Because finishing salts are added right before serving, they don't dissolve into the food but rather sit on the surface, creating a delicate balance of flavours.
This allows you to experience the saltiness more directly, making every bite more pronounced. For instance, a sprinkle of fleur de sel on a piece of dark chocolate can enhance the sweetness and highlight the cocoa’s subtle notes. The right finishing salt can bring out the best in both sweet and savoury dishes.
One of the defining features of finishing salts is their texture. Unlike finely ground table salt, finishing salts are often flaked or coarse, providing a satisfying crunch when bitten into. This textural contrast can enhance the eating experience, adding another sensory layer to your dish. For example, when you sprinkle a coarse finishing salt over a slice of caramelized meat or freshly grilled vegetables, the crystals add a pleasant, unexpected crunch that pairs beautifully with the softer texture of the food.
Finishing salts come in a wide range of flavours, often influenced by their place of origin and the process through which they are made. For instance, smoked salt can add a hint of smokiness to foods, making it a perfect complement to meats, cheeses, and roasted vegetables.
Himalayan pink salt, harvested from ancient sea beds, has a milder flavour than regular salt, with a slightly mineral taste that works well with lighter dishes. There are also flavoured salts infused with herbs, citrus, truffles, and spices, which can add new dimensions to dishes without needing to add additional ingredients.
Control Over Saltiness
When you add salt during cooking, there’s always a risk of over-seasoning, as the salt dissolves and is absorbed into the dish, making it difficult to gauge the final flavour. Finishing salts, however, give you more control over how much saltiness you want to add, as they remain on the surface and are only tasted when you take a bite. This means you can sprinkle just a little bit to enhance flavors without worrying about making the dish too salty. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to adjust the seasoning of a dish at the very last moment, especially if you want to preserve the natural flavors of the ingredients.
