How to Use Our Flavored Salts
A chile sea salt does two jobs at once: it seasons and it adds heat and flavor in the same pinch. That makes it one of the easiest ways to upgrade everyday food, from eggs and avocado toast to steak, popcorn and a margarita rim. This guide explains the four Savu Birra chile sea salts, how hot and smoky each one is, how much to use, and a dozen ways to put them to work.
Shop chile sea salts
The Chile Sea Salt Variety Pack includes all four: Jalapeño, Chipotle, Red Chile and Habanero. It's an easy way to find your favorite, and a good gift for anyone who salts everything.
The four chile sea salts compared
| Salt | What's in it | Flavor and heat | Try it on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalapeño Sea Salt | Sea salt, ground jalapeño | Green jalapeño flavor, a little heat | Guacamole, cucumber, eggs, roasted vegetables, chicken |
| Chipotle Sea Salt | Sea salt, ground chipotle, smoked paprika | Smoky, hot, a little tangy | Steak, pork, corn, sweet potatoes, pasta, salads |
| Red Chile Sea Salt | Sea salt, red chile, smoked paprika, garlic, citric acid | Savory, tangy, medium heat | Fries, popcorn, fried eggs, watermelon, Bloody Mary rims |
| Habanero Sea Salt | Sea salt, habanero | Very hot, citrusy and fruity | Mango, pineapple, seafood, wings, popcorn (a small pinch) |
Each salt is blended so you get full chile flavor without the salt taking over. Jalapeño, Red Chile and Habanero Sea Salt have no added sugar.
How much to use
Treat a chile salt as salt first. Use it in place of some or all of the regular salt, not on top of a fully salted dish.
- Finishing a plate: a small pinch per serving, sprinkled just before eating.
- 1 pound of roasted vegetables or potatoes: about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon after roasting. Toss and taste.
- Steak or chops: about 1/2 teaspoon per pound, right before or right after cooking.
- 4 cups of popcorn: about 1/4 teaspoon with a teaspoon of melted butter or oil.
Crystal size changes how much salt a spoon holds, so taste as you go. If a dish already has enough salt but needs more heat, reach for a chile powder like chipotle or habanero instead.
12 ways to use chile sea salt
- Eggs. Red Chile or Jalapeño on fried, scrambled or deviled eggs.
- Avocado toast and guacamole. Jalapeño salt gives fresh-chile flavor without chopping.
- Steak. Finish sliced steak with Chipotle Sea Salt for smoke and crunch.
- Corn on the cob. Butter, lime and Chipotle or Red Chile salt.
- Fries and roasted potatoes. Toss hot fries with Red Chile Sea Salt.
- Popcorn. Any of the four. Habanero for the brave.
- Fruit. Watermelon, mango, pineapple and cucumber with lime and a pinch of Habanero or Red Chile salt.
- Cocktail and mocktail rims. Red Chile for a Bloody Mary or michelada, Jalapeño or Habanero for a margarita or limeade.
- Grilled shrimp and fish. A light pinch of Habanero or Jalapeño after cooking, with lime.
- Roasted vegetables. Chipotle on sweet potatoes and squash, Jalapeño on broccoli and zucchini.
- Soups and chili. Season at the end with Chipotle or Red Chile salt instead of plain salt.
- Chocolate and caramel. A few crystals of Chipotle or Habanero salt on brownies or chocolate bark.
Recipe: chile-lime corn on the cob
Serves: 4.
- 4 ears corn, husked
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- About 1/2 teaspoon Chipotle Sea Salt or Red Chile Sea Salt
- Optional: crumbled cotija and chopped cilantro
- Grill or boil the corn until tender, 8 to 12 minutes.
- Brush with butter, squeeze lime over, and sprinkle lightly with chile salt.
- Add cotija and cilantro if you like. Taste and add another pinch of salt if needed.
Recipe: popcorn tasting flight
Pop 8 cups of unsalted popcorn and toss with 2 to 3 teaspoons melted butter or oil. Divide into four bowls and season each with a small pinch of a different chile salt. Toss, taste and compare the smoke, heat and salt. It's a fun way to try the whole Chile Sea Salt Variety Pack on game night.
Recipe: chile salt rim for drinks
Mix 1 tablespoon Red Chile, Jalapeño or Habanero Sea Salt with 1 teaspoon sugar and the zest of half a lime on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the glass rim and dip. Works for margaritas, micheladas, Bloody Marys, limeade and mango agua fresca. Use the sugar only if you want a sweet-salty balance.
Recipe: habanero salt mango salad
Toss 1 diced mango and 1 diced cucumber with 1 tablespoon lime juice. Add a very small pinch of Habanero Sea Salt, toss, wait a few minutes and taste before adding more. Serve with grilled fish, chicken or tacos.
Tips and storage
- Shake or pinch onto a plate, not directly over a steaming pot, so moisture doesn't clump the jar.
- Keep jars tightly closed, away from the stove and dishwasher.
- If a dish gets too salty, add more unseasoned food or unsalted liquid. Lemon changes the balance but doesn't remove salt.
- Habanero salt is very hot. Wash your hands after pinching it and keep it away from your eyes.
Frequently asked questions
Which chile sea salt is the mildest?
Jalapeño Sea Salt has the least heat. Habanero is by far the hottest.
Can I cook with chile salt, or is it only for finishing?
Both. You can season meat and vegetables with it before cooking, but the chile flavor is brightest when added near the end.
What's the difference between chile sea salt and smoked sea salt?
Chile sea salts are blended with ground chiles for heat and pepper flavor. Smoked sea salts are smoked for flavor with no chile heat. See How to Use Savu Birra Smoked Sea Salt.
Do chile salts make a good gift?
Yes. The four-pack covers mild to very hot and works for anyone who cooks, grills or makes cocktails. See our Spice Gift Guide for more ideas.
Explore more from Savu Birra
Browse all smoked and flavored sea salts, try the Smoked Sea Salt Variety Pack (Applewood, Hickory, Smoked and Cherrywood), or our everyday Seasoned Sea Salt. Related reading: How to Use Chile Peppers and Flavored Sea Salt and How to Use Seasoned Sea Salt.
