Himalayan Salt Plates

By Lonnie

COOKING

Plates, slabs and bricks can be used as a cooking aid or serving piece. The salt can be heated in an oven, atop a range, or on a grill. Since it is a natural product, heating the plates will change the appearance, and may bring out the internals flaws, so caution should be used. You may wish to use one slab for cooking, while saving one for more aesthetic applications.

When cooking on your salt, ensure that itis completely dry prior to applying any heat Tyicall, dry time is at least 24 hours. The salt is commonly heated to between 300 - 400 degrees F.

For gas ranges or grill: heat on a low flame, gradually increasing to medium low until the desired temperature is reached, generally around 30 to 45 minutes.

For electric ranges: Set the salt on a heat-safe metal platform so that the salt is at least 1/2 inch above the direct heat. Direct contact could be damaging to both your equipment and/or your salt. Begin on low heat and gradually increase to medium low for approximately 40 to 55 minutes, or until salt reaches desired temperature.

CAUTION: Salt slab will become very hot as it retains heat applied to it.

SERVING

Another great application for these items is as a serving platter. The salt can be chilled in the refrigeration for serving items such as sushi or cheese, or even in the freezer, providing a new way to present cold desserts, even sorbet. Moist foods will pick up more salty flavor, while denser and drier foolds will be presented beautifully and imaginatively.

Ingredients

• Himalayan salt slabs

Preparation

Step 1

CARE

To clean after use, scrub with a mildly abrasive brush. You may use a mosit cloth as well. Do not run salt plate under water or submerge. pat dry. Place on drying rack to allow the slab to air dry for 24 hours. Himalayan salt does not require the use of any cleanser, as it is inherently antimircrobial.

While our Himalayan plate should give you multiple uses worth of enjoyment, the salt will dissolve little by little reducing the size and possibly causing irregularities in the surface, such as small depressions. Someday, when your salt gets too small for cooking or serving on, it will be a perfect size to grate over your food, break up for making soup, or even to throw in your tub for a detoxifying salt bath.