In some folk magic traditions, black salt is used as a protective element. It can be blended up and sprinkled around your property to keep your home safe from intruders or troublemakers. It is traditionally used to drive away evil, and can even be sprinkled in the footprints of someone who is bothering you, to make them go away.
Use black salt to protect your property or belongings. Patti Wigington
Some websites recommend adding a dye or food coloring to the salt. However, when you add liquid to salt it gets clumpy, and then dissolves. So you'll want to use something dry to color it instead. Here's a basic recipe for black salt:
- 2 parts sea salt
- 1 part scrapings from a cast iron skillet or pot OR
- 1 part fine ash from your fire pit OR
- 1 part finely ground black pepper OR
- 1 part dry, powdered black food coloring
Depending on the density of your coloring ingredient, you may need to adjust the portions a little, but that's the basic method of making it. If you have a well-seasoned cast iron pot or cauldron, you should be able to get a good amount of black scrapings out of the bottom of it — if it seems too oily, use the ash or pepper instead. A few readers have also recommended using black chalk dust, black powdered food dye, or lamplight.
Don't confuse this concoction, however, with the black salt used in Indian cuisine — that item is actually a mineral salt which is a weird pinkish gray color and has a bit of a sulfuric taste to it.
Julia Lazarova / EyeEm / Getty Images
Black Salt in Cursing and Hexing
In addition to being a powerful ingredient in protection magic, black salt is used in some folk magic traditions for cursing, hexing, and binding. Obviously, if your beliefs prohibit you from doing this sort of working, don't do it - and feel free to just skip to the next section. However, if you're okay with magic of this nature, black salt can be a valuable tool.
The folks over at Black Witch Coven, a compendium of all kinds of great hoodoo and conjure information, say
"To gain revenge on an enemy, sprinkle black salt into a doll baby or voodoo doll containing a personal concern from the enemy, such as a photograph, snip of hair or fingernail clippings. Black salt can be added to black magic mojos or bottle spells which are to be buried on the property of the victim or else hidden inside their home or car. But you have to make sure that no innocent person is harmed in any way."
Other uses for black salt in hexing and cursing include mixing it with other ingredients such as red peppers, graveyard dirt, or war water.
As mentioned, black salt is primarily a protective magical tool. I like to sprinkle it around the perimeter of my property a few times a year to keep unpleasant people or things from crossing into my yard. You can also use it at work — tuck a small bagful under your desk to prevent annoying coworkers or the office bully from hanging around. If someone you dislike is leaving your home, wait until they're gone, and then follow along where they walked — toss some black salt into their footsteps to keep them from returning. Dress a black candle in oil and then roll it in black salt, and use it in spellwork for banishing negative entities or people.
If you've got leftover black salt after a working, depending on what you've used it for, it's something you may want to go ahead and get rid of. To dispose of black salt, if you've used it in a hexing or banishing, take it someplace far from your home and bury it, or throw it into a fire. If you've simply used it for a protective boundary, you can bury it on your own property.
If you've used black salt in cursing or hexing, you're going to want to get rid of it eventually. After all, you don't need to keep it hanging around. There are a few easy ways to dispose of it. You can take it somewhere far from your home and bury it; many Hoodoo and Conjure practitioners recommend burying it near a crossroads or even a graveyard. You can also toss it into moving water, like a stream or river. Make sure the water really is moving, though — you don't want the salt just swirling around in one stagnant spot. Finally, consider disposal by fire. If you choose to use this method, however, be sure to take the ashes far away and bury them — don't use them for later magical applications.
Salt is one of the most common spices.
While using it in moderation isn’t usually a concern, excess salt intake has been linked to high blood pressure and other health issues (1).
Many people with chronic health conditions must cut down on salt, and the American population generally eats too much of it (1).
Instead, you can try several herbs, spices, and other ingredients to add a burst of flavor to your favorite dish.
Here are 18 flavorful salt substitutes.
Share on Pinterest
Garlic is a pungent spice that boosts flavor without increasing sodium content.
You can cut back on the salt and double the amount of garlic in recipes for tomato sauces and marinades. Garlic tastes delicious in soups and stir-fries, too.
What’s more, this allium vegetable is loaded with health benefits. Studies show that garlic compounds may boost immunity, lower blood pressure, and promote brain health (2, 3, 4).
Citrus, especially lemon juice and zest, makes an excellent alternative to salt in some recipes.
As a source of acid, lemon juice acts similarly to salt by bringing out the flavors of a dish. Meanwhile, lemon zest contributes an even more potent citrus flavor. The juice and zest of limes and oranges also have these effects.
Citrus can be drizzled over cooked vegetables and used in salad dressings and marinades for meat and fish.
Salt and pepper are a classic culinary duo.
Yet, if you’re looking to cut back on salt, simply reach for the pepper shaker instead. Black pepper is a good addition to soups, roasts, pastas, and other savory dishes.
Plus, black pepper may decrease inflammation that’s linked to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer (5).
You can likewise try white pepper, peppercorn mixtures, and pepper alternatives, such as jalapeños, chili peppers, and cayenne peppers.
The fresh taste of dill, with hints of celery and fennel, makes it a flavorful alternative to salt.
Dill is an especially good substitute in dishes with fish, potatoes, and cucumbers. You can sprinkle it on top of salmon, use it as the main seasoning in potato salad, or add it to lemon or lime juice for fish dishes.
Like garlic, onion offers a flavor boost to almost any savory recipe.
In particular, dried onion or onion powder is more potent than fresh onion and can be swapped for salt in stir-fries, soups, stews, dips, and salsas. It offers a bit of spice with a hint of sweetness.
Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast sold as flakes and powder.
Known for its cheesy, savory flavor, it works well in popcorn, pastas, and grains. Despite its cheesiness, it doesn’t contain dairy.
Using nutritional yeast in place of salt may also have health benefits. The beta glucan fiber in nutritional yeast may help lower your cholesterol, potentially lowering your risk of heart disease (6).
Balsamic vinegar has a sharp, tart flavor with a hint of sweetness. It brings out a food’s natural flavors, too, minimizing the need for salt.
Use balsamic vinegar in salad dressings, soups, stews, and marinades for meat and fish. Reducing it in a saucepan over low heat creates an even more flavorful syrup that you can drizzle over fresh tomatoes or roasted vegetables.
The smoky, spicy taste of smoked paprika is accompanied by a deep red color.
Add it to taco meat, stews, chili, and nachos. You can also use it to replace salsa, which is often high in sodium.
Notably, this spice may have several health benefits. For example, test-tube studies suggest that the paprika compound capsaicin, which makes some varieties spicy, may stop cancer cell growth (7).
Truffle oil is infused with edible fungi for a strong, earthy taste praised by food lovers worldwide.
It’s so potent that you can use just a small amount in place of salt. Drizzle it on pasta, pizza, eggs, popcorn, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.
Rosemary is a popular herb often used in dipping oils.
Consider adding fresh or dried rosemary to soups, stews, and roasts, as well as roasted vegetables, dressings, sauces, and breads.
With its pungent, sweet bite, ginger can replace salt in many dishes.
You can mix freshly chopped ginger root or dried ginger into stir-fries, sauces, marinades, beverages, and soups.
What’s more, this root has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It exhibits anti-inflammatory effects and may help improve muscle soreness, among other health benefits (8, 9).
Coconut aminos, a dark brown liquid made from the nectar of coconut palms, tastes like soy sauce but has a hint of sweetness — and much lower sodium content.
These characteristics make it a great alternative to soy sauce in stir-fries, rice dishes, dipping sauces, and marinades.
Coriander comes from the seeds of the cilantro plant. It has a warm, floral, lemony taste and is often added ground or whole to salsas, soups, and curries.
Coriander also boasts numerous antioxidants, including terpinene, quercetin, and tocopherols. Test-tube and animal studies have found that these compounds may boost brain health and immunity (10, 11).
For a spicy kick to any meal, swap salt for red pepper flakes.
This potent seasoning is made from dried hot peppers. It tastes delicious in soups, chilis, dressings, marinades, pizza, and pasta.
Sweet and tart, apple cider vinegar makes for a versatile salt replacement.
It can be used as a marinade for pork chops, mixed into salad dressings, and drizzled over vegetables.
Plus, apple cider vinegar may offer health benefits. Animal studies suggest that vinegar lowers cholesterol and improves risk factors for heart disease (12, 13).
Cinnamon, which is one of the most common ingredients in baked goods, can also replace salt.
This warm spice has slightly sweet and peppery undertones. Add it to chilis, soups, tomato sauce, curries, roasts, and marinades for chicken or turkey.
What’s more, you can swap cinnamon for salt when cooking beans or lentils. Add a cinnamon stick to the pot for maximum flavor.
Sage is a green herb with hints of citrus and eucalyptus.
The flavor of both fresh and dried sage is quite strong, making it a good substitute for salt. It tastes delicious in savory autumn dishes, such as brown butter sauces, roasted squash, mashed sweet potatoes, and risotto.
With its licorice-like, slightly bitter taste, tarragon is a flavorful spice.
Instead of going heavy on salt the next time you make scrambled eggs or chicken salad, add fresh or dried tarragon instead. This herb tastes especially delicious in butter or cream sauces that you can serve with chicken, fish, and veggies.
Salt is the most common seasoning added to food, but many people consume too much of it.
Healthcare professionals may advise those with high blood pressure or other health conditions to reduce their salt intake.
Try using one of the flavorful seasonings above as a replacement.
Last medically reviewed on September 17, 2020
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.