How to Blend a Good Salt Substitute

It is easy to blend a salt substitute that adds flavor to foods while helping you maintain a low-sodium diet. Seasoning meats and vegetables with an herb-and-spice blend, using favorite ingredients in your spice rack, is a simple way to eliminate excess salt.

Things You'll Need

• Food processor or blender
• 2 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 1/3 tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1 tsp. coriander
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. dried marjoram
• 1 tsp. dried mustard
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried savory
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp. celery seed
• 1/2 tsp. unsweetened lemonade drink mix
• 1/4 tsp. crushed dried rosemary
• 1/2 cup crushed dried minced onion flakes
• 2 2/3 tbsp. crushed dried vegetable flakes
• 2 tbsp. dried orange peel
• 1/2-qt. glass jar
• Spoon
• Shaker

Instructions

1. Combine in a blender or food processor the garlic powder, black pepper, parsley, basil, marjoram, mustard, oregano, savory, time, cayenne, cumin, coriander, lemonade mix, celery seed and rosemary.

2. Cover and pulse five or six times to mix the spices. Leave the lid on until the dust cloud settles, to avoid eye and nose irritation.

3. Remove the lid and add onion flakes, vegetable flakes and orange peel. These larger pieces of spice are added last so they will retain their shape and add texture in the blend.

4. Replace the lid and pulse quickly two more times. Wait for the dust to settle again, and then remove the lid and take a sample taste. Add more of any ingredient you are not tasting in the final mix, to balance out your customized salt substitute.

5. Store your salt substitute blend in a sealed glass jar, and set the jar in a cool, dark place. Fill a small shaker with your blend and put it on the dinner table, right next to the pepper shaker, to encourage everyday use.

Tips & Warnings

• The potency of your blend will begin to diminish after a year, even if kept under optimum conditions.

• Divide your base blend and use it to make specialty seasonings by adding more of one ingredient or another.

• Turn up the heat with some crushed red pepper flakes or hot chili powder.

• Combine your salt substitute with olive oil and red wine vinegar for a vinaigrette salad dressing.

References

• Taste of Home: Herbal Salt Substitute Recipe
• Cooks Recipes: Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Seasoning
• Yum Yum: Garden Blend Salt Substitute Recipe