{how to} How To Make Lavender Salt – And 8 Suggestions For How to Use It

We grow an outrageous amount of lavender in our garden, and aside from making lavender caramel sauce from time to time, I have mostly left the lavender flowers to the bees. But this year I decided to do something with it. It is incredibly easy to make lavender salt, and it’s a wonderful addition to your pantry or a classy homemade gift.

The lavender flowers should be dried, and the easiest way to do that is to pick or cut some stems and leave them in a vase (with no water) for about a week. It’s OK if they have a few flowers, as the flowers will dry up and fall off. If you don’t have lavender growing nor a generous friend with a patch of it, you can, of course, buy some dried lavender to make the salt.

Once dried, remove the little lavender pods from the stems – they will come off easily if you slide your fingers along the stems. Don’t worry if there are a few little brown pieces or what have you.

Measure out about 1 tablespoon of lavender and 1/2 cup of kosher or sea salt and grind them a together with spice grinder, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle. Grinding everything together will release the oils of the lavender and rub everything on to the salt.

If you prefer coarser salt, then I recommend grinding the lavender pods with about 1 or 2 tablespoons of the kosher or sea salt, then stirring in the remaining, coarse salt to the mix.

Decant to a jar or container (I got the cute tins in the top picture at Spicely.)

So what should you use this lovely salt on?

Here are 8 suggestions for what to put lavender salt on:

• Chocolate. Lavender goes really well with both dark and white chocolate, and lightly salted chocolate is always a good thing. Try a sprinkle on pudding, mousse, cake, or fudge.
• Scallops. Mild shellfish like tender scallops go very well with florals. Finishing a lemony, buttery scallop dish with lavender salt is a spectacular finishing touch.
• Lamb chops. There is something magical about the combination of lavender and lamb. Of all the red meats, lamb carries the flowery flavor best of all. A little bit on your lamb chops is all you need.
• Fresh fruit. Try sprinkling papayas, berries, pineapples, and other fruit with lavender salt. The salt brings out the intense sweetness of the fruit while the lavender lightly perfumes it.
• Caramels or toffee. If you’re making homemade caramels or toffee, add a sprinkling of lavender salt for decoration and flavor.
• Margaritas. Give your margarita a twist by rimming the glass in lavender salt instead of plain salt.
• Lemony things. Lavender and lemon is a classic combination, whether you’re serving something savory or sweet.
• Roast chicken. Rub a bit under the skin with some butter before roasting, and prepare to be delighted.

What do you put lavender salt on? Any other ideas I should try?