A quick guide to salt and pepper:
Salt:The most common type of salt is table salt. Table salt is generally a combination of two types of salt: sodium chloride, which is the main ingredient in both table and kosher salts, and an anti-caking agent (usually calcium silicate). Since it’s not pure sodium chloride, it’s not as effective a flavor enhancer as pure salt.
Taste Profile:Table salt has a salty taste with a “saltier” aftertaste. It is less densely flavored than kosher or sea salt.
Uses:Table salt is best for baking and cooking at low temperatures, because it dissolves more easily than kosher or sea salts. It’s also better for seasoning at the end of cooking, since it doesn’t have as strong a flavor as kosher or sea salts.
Kosher Salt:Kosher salts are actually flaky-grained table salts that have had most of their moisture removed so they’ll absorb flavors faster. They also contain more minerals than table salt, which gives them their distinctive taste and crunchy texture. This extra mineral content also makes them less hygroscopic–they absorb moisture less readily than table salt, which means they’re less likely to clump together after being
I have been cooking for a few years and have found that the best way to learn new things is to experiment a little bit. I decided to start experimenting with salt and pepper since they are the two most commonly used seasonings in my cooking.
I started out by changing the amount of salt and pepper I would normally use to see if it made much of a difference on the taste of my food. To my surprise, it did make a large difference. The food tasted much better when I used less salt and more pepper.
Trial and error is the best way I’ve found to figure out what works best for you. Try one or two things at a time, so you will be able to tell what flavors work and which don’t. Also, keep track of how much you use so you know what works best for you. The only way you can find out how much seasoning is right for you is by trying different amounts until you find one that tastes good to you. An easy way to do this is just buy a seasoning shaker that has a level built in so you know exactly how much is in it.
So, salt and pepper.
Everyone uses them, but few people understand how to use them well. Salt is not one thing; there are dozens of different kinds of salt for use in cooking, and as many kinds of pepper. Good cooks carefully experiment with new salts and peppers until they find the ones that work well with their own palate. Pepper is not one thing either; green or black peppercorns are very different from each other, as are white peppercorns. And don’t forget that certain things taste better with a touch of smoke, or sugar, or garlic powder—not to mention a dash of the old Tabasco sauce!
Experimenting with new combinations can transform your cooking. This page will help you get started. Though I am a physicist by training and profession, I love food. I also like science; it is an aspect of human life as rich and rewarding as art or music or literature. Learning to cook is a way for me to approach my science more closely, and to share my love for food with others.”
The first time I tried lemon pepper seasoning, it was in a homemade marinara sauce. It was tasty, but I didn’t really understand the recipe and it tasted more like lemon than peppercorns. The second time was on grilled chicken and it was delicious, with just the right amount of lemon and a good dose of pepper. The third time was on a salad and it was too much lemon, not enough peppercorn.
Trying to find the best way to make your own lemon pepper seasoning is like playing with salt and pepper – there is no best. Too little or too much of either can ruin a dish.
What you need:
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1 tsp coarse-grained black peppercorns
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
*If you don’t have any of those spices you can use 1 tsp celery seed instead of the basil and oregano; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes instead of the peppercorns (or use both); 1/4 tsp onion powder instead of the salt; and if you don’t have any fresh basil, use dried basil instead.*
In a coffee grinder, grind all ingredients
“Lemon Pepper” is a mix of lemon zest and coarsely ground black pepper, often used on seafood. This recipe is based on one by Tyler Florence.
Mix lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Add enough olive oil to make a thick paste. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Tumbled glass salt and pepper shakers are pretty, but they may be too small and fragile for this recipe. The mixture is easily spooned from the food processor into wide-mouthed salt and pepper shakers or any other airtight storage container.
Use the lemon pepper as you would regular black pepper. Try it on seafood (scallops, shrimp, salmon) or chicken before cooking or at the table.*
* If you want to use the lemon pepper on cooked fish, add it right before serving or at least fifteen minutes before so that it doesn’t overpower the fish as it cools.
Lemon-pepper seasoning is a flavor combination most often used on chicken and fish. It adds a pleasant citrus flavor to simple dishes. Lemon pepper seasoning is made from whole peppercorns that have been ground with lemon zest to produce a tangy, spicy flavor. Pepper and lemon are complementary flavors, so the two work well together.
Taste your lemon pepper seasoning before using it in a dish. If you find that you need more or less of an ingredient, alter your recipe accordingly. You can substitute another citrus fruit for the lemon if you want. The best types of citrus to use are ones that are similar to lemons in acidity, such as limes or even oranges.
The pepper in the lemon-pepper seasoning gives it a strong flavor that some people do not like. If you are one of these people, simply omit the pepper and add salt instead. A little garlic powder can also be added for extra flavor, but leave out the salt if you do this as well because salt will make the dish too salty.
You may notice that there are a lot of recipes online with no salt or pepper. This is because they’re not supposed to be eaten. What you’re looking at is an attempt by someone to create something new by leaving out the obvious and adding something unexpected.
Tastes are like fingerprints, unique to each individual. However, there are some ingredients that are pretty universal when it comes to cooking, and that’s what we’ll be covering today.
Salt vs Pepper
You can buy pre-ground pepper anywhere in most of the world now and it’s usually quite inexpensive. The other day I picked up a jar of coarse ground black pepper at Whole Foods for $2.39 that makes about 2/3 cup of ground pepper. This means you can make yourself about 50 quarter teaspoon servings for about $0.07 per serving. That’s not bad!
Paprika
Paprika is also a really useful spice for making your food more flavorful and adding color to it as well. Most people like the flavor of paprika, but if you don’t you can use chili powder instead or just leave it out all together. If you do want to use paprika, the best way to add it into your dish is by rubbing it into the meat before
