A sprinkle of flaky sea salt has changed the way I cook and eat. When I moved into my new apartment one of the first things I put in my Amazon shopping cart was Maldon Sea Salt. This is not your ordinary table salt… the salt comes in these little crystals, kind of like shreds of salt flakes. The coarse texture between your fingers when you reach for a pinch reminds you how, like snowflakes, each of these salt flakes are different. Together as the finishing touch on a dish, the flakes help maximize flavor. They are never too salty, but rather intensify the natural savory and sweet complexities of each bite.

My ordinary peanut butter toast with bananas, cinnamon and honey has been dramatically improved with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt at the end. Eggs and sliced tomatoes deserve a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of Maldon. A simple arugula salad with a light vinaigrette is transformed with the sea salt flakes balancing the peppery notes. Chocolate chip cookies get a few flakes of salt right before they go into the oven. (This is what I’m dreaming of once my Whole30 ends!) Pretty much every dish I make now doesn’t feel complete unless it’s dusted with the flaky salt.

Ever since I started working at Food Network I watched and learned how much more generously our culinary team seasons food than I normally would. One of my colleagues once said, “Whenever I’m having people over, I always add more salt and more butter to what I’m cooking.” I loved that advice. In general, I think many home cooks are afraid of over-salting their food, while I would argue people are not using the right kind of salt enough when they cook. When I’m cooking, I use regular sea salt for seasoning through the process, but still add a pinch of Maldon at the end.

These sea salt crystals are like precious little gems to me. You may think I’m crazy for loving salt this much, but it’s truly changed the way I cook. This love letter is not sponsored whatsoever. I just want you to be able to share in this new level of gourmet cooking with me! Please snag yourself a $5 box of Maldon Sea Salt and report back. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela