Black Salt: Everything You Need to Know
11/11/2022
By Lee Nottle
What is black salt?
Also known as Himalayan black salt or kala namak, black salt is volcanic rock salt sourced from areas around Asia and the Himalayas. It is a popular ingredient in Pakistan, India and other Asian countries. It has been believed that black salt has therapeutic properties but there is no evidence to support this. Interestingly, black salt is not black at all. It is commonly pink in colour.
Is black salt real salt?
Yes, it is! Black salt commonly starts as Himalayan pink salt and then heated to a high temperature. Black salt is made synthetically from a combination of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, and ferric sulfate. This is then combined with charcoal and heated.
What does black salt taste like?
Due to the sulfur content, black salt has an egg-like odour and taste. This makes it a fantastic ingredient for vegans and those on plant-based diets looking to replicate dishes with a distinctive eggy taste such as scrambled eggs.
Is black salt better than white salt?
Traditionally, black salt has a lower sodium content compared with white salt. It is therefore a great ingredient for those looking to lower their sodium intake. Also, as the salt goes through minimal processing, it generally has less additives than white salt.
Is black salt good for you?
Some claim that black salt has more minerals than its counterparts but there is limited research to confirm this. It also said to aid with digestion and improve the health of skins and nails. As the evidence to support these claims is very limited, it is best to use to back salt as a flavour-enhancer in food and use in moderation.
Scrambled Tofu and Black Salt Brekkie
Scrambled eggs are arguably one the main pillars of any cooked breakfast and are a component often missing from a vegan full English breakfast. We have a fantastic tofu scramble recipe for you that will easily become one of your new staple breakfast features. This reimagined favourite is high in protein, calcium and, unlike the real thing, is cholesterol free! The key ingredient here is the black salt. This brilliant ingredient makes the scrambled tofu super eggy without actually having any eggs in it!
Ingredients
Serves 3-4 People
Method
Begin by crumbling the tofu into a bowl with your hands. Add the black salt, garlic powder, turmeric and black pepper. Now add the non-dairy milk of your choice and mix this in well. Heat up the sunflower oil in a pan on a medium heat and add the tofu mix.
Fry the tofu until slightly browned. Be careful however not to break it up too much and fold the mixture in.
Cook until the scrambled tofu is at the desired consistency and serve with grilled cherry tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and a slice of toast.