How to Make Lemon-Thyme Salt

This homemade citrus and herb salt will be a welcome handmade gift for any foodie on your gift list and is also an excellent host/hostess gift. This flavorful salt adds a delicious extra kick to poultry or fish and can be added while cooking or tableside. 

This homemade citrus, herb salt will be a welcome addition to any kitchen, especially those that belong to someone who loves to cook.  Flavored salt is delicious on poultry or fish and can be added while cooking or tableside.

Lemon Thyme Salt

This homemade citrus, herb salt will be a welcome addition to any kitchen, especially those that belong to someone who loves to cook. Flavored salt is delicious on poultry or fish and can be added while cooking or tableside.

Photo by: Marian Parsons

Marian Parsons

Materials Needed

  • 1/2 cup coarse salt
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh thyme (1 generous handful of sprigs)
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest (3 lemons)
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • small mixing bowl
  • microplane/zester
  • chef’s knife
  • cutting board
  • parchment paper
  • shallow baking pan or cookie sheet
  • small jar
  • tag

Strip and Finely Chop Thyme Leaves

Using your fingers, strip fresh thyme leaves off stem (Image 1). Finely chop with a chef’s knife (Image 2). Drop chopped herb into a small mixing bowl and set aside.

Zest Lemons

Run lemons along a microplane zester to remove zest from lemon peel (Image 2). Only plane off the yellow part of the peel, because the rind becomes bitter where it turns white. Add lemon zest to thyme in mixing bowl.

Mix Salt

Add 1/2 cup of coarse salt to the mixing bowl. Using clean fingers, mix herbs and zest into salt, rubbing the lemon between your fingers to release the oils. Repeat until completely combined.

Step 2: Zest Lemons
Run lemons along a microplane zester to remove zest from lemon peel.  Only plane off the yellow part of the peel, because the rind becomes bitter where it turns white.  Add lemon zest to thyme in mixing bowl.

Lemon Thyme Salt

Step 2: Zest Lemons Run lemons along a microplane zester to remove zest from lemon peel. Only plane off the yellow part of the peel, because the rind becomes bitter where it turns white. Add lemon zest to thyme in mixing bowl.

Photo by: Marian Parsons

Marian Parsons

Dry Salt

Dump lemon thyme salt onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet (Image 1). Spread out with fingers and allow salt to dry for eight hours (Image 2).

Step 3: Mix Salt
Add half a cup coarse salt to mixing bowl.  Use clean fingers to mix herbs and zest into salt.  Rub between your fingers to release lemon oils.  Repeat until completely combined.

Lemon Thyme Salt

Step 3: Mix Salt Add half a cup coarse salt to mixing bowl. Use clean fingers to mix herbs and zest into salt. Rub between your fingers to release lemon oils. Repeat until completely combined.

Photo by: Marian Parsons

Marian Parsons

Bottle Salt

Pour salt into a decorative jar and add a handwritten tag. Herb salt will last for several months. It's normal for the color to fade, but the flavor will remain intact. Salt can be used directly over cooked food or incorporated into a recipe. 

This homemade citrus, herb salt will be a welcome addition to any kitchen, especially those that belong to someone who loves to cook.  Flavored salt is delicious on poultry or fish and can be added while cooking or tableside.

Lemon Thyme Salt

This homemade citrus, herb salt will be a welcome addition to any kitchen, especially those that belong to someone who loves to cook. Flavored salt is delicious on poultry or fish and can be added while cooking or tableside.

Photo by: Marian Parsons

Marian Parsons

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