You’ve planted the herbs. You’ve watered, pruned, and lovingly sung to them (maybe). Now what?
It’s time to eat your garden.
No, seriously — let’s turn those beautiful leaves into something magical: Herbal Salt.
This simple DIY project takes your homegrown curry leaves, lemongrass, basil, and more — and turns them into custom gourmet seasoning blends that make your meals pop with flavour and pride.
Whether you sprinkle it on eggs, grilled chicken, roasted veggies or even popcorn — you’ll feel like a celebrity chef with your own signature spice. 😎🌿🔥
🌱 What Is Herbal Salt?
Herbal salt is just what it sounds like:
Dried herbs + salt = flavour bomb 💣
The salt acts as a preservative and flavour carrier, while the herbs provide the aroma, taste, and colour. It’s a super-easy way to preserve your harvest and level up your cooking game.
🌿 Best Herbs for Malaysian-Style Herbal Salt
These are all herbs you can grow at home in pots or beds (and probably already have if you’ve been following Project HARVEST 😄):
| HERB | FLAVOUR PROFILE | GOES WELL WITH… |
|---|---|---|
| Curry Leaf | Earthy, aromatic, bold | Eggs, rice, chicken, fried snacks |
| Lemongrass | Citrusy, refreshing, zesty | Soups, fish, roasted veggies |
| Thai Basil | Sweet-spicy, anise-like | Noodles, sauces, stir fry |
| Pandan Leaf | Fragrant, grassy-vanilla aroma | Rice, grilled meats, desserts |
| Chilli Leaf | Mild heat, slight bitterness | Soups, spice blends, meat rubs |
| Kaffir Lime Leaf | Sharp citrus, bold aroma | Tom yum, grilled seafood, marinades |
You can mix and match depending on your mood and menu!
🍽️ 3 Herbal Salt Combos to Try
1. Malaysian Nasi Ulam Salt
- Curry leaf
- Lemongrass
- Kaffir lime leaf
- Thai basil
- Coarse Himalayan salt or sea salt
👉 Perfect for grilled fish, telur dadar, or even ayam goreng kampung!
2. Tropical BBQ Rub
- Pandan
- Lemongrass
- Black pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Sea salt
👉 Use as a dry rub for chicken wings or sprinkle on roasted sweet potato fries.
3. Spicy Garden Popcorn Salt
- Chilli leaf
- Curry leaf
- Turmeric powder
- Salt
👉 Throw this on your popcorn and thank yourself later.
🛠️ How to Make Herbal Salt at Home (Step-by-Step)
🌿 Step 1: Harvest & Clean Your Herbs
- Pick only healthy, clean leaves (no yellow spots or pests)
- Rinse gently under water and pat dry completely
Pro Tip: Do this in the morning when leaves are most fragrant.
☀️ Step 2: Dry Your Herbs
You can dry them in 3 ways:
- Air Dry – Bundle with string, hang in a cool dry place (takes 3–5 days)
- Oven Dry – Lay herbs on tray, bake at 80°C for 1–2 hours (door slightly open)
- Dehydrator – Fastest & most efficient (if you have one)
Goal: Brittle dry, not crispy burnt.
🔪 Step 3: Crush & Blend
- Remove stems and crush dried leaves into flakes using hands, mortar & pestle or blender
- Mix with coarse salt in ratio of 1 part herbs to 2–3 parts salt
- Optional: Add spices like garlic powder, pepper, or turmeric
🫙 Step 4: Store It Like a Pro
- Use clean, airtight glass jars (mini mason jars are perfect!)
- Label your blend + date
- Store in a cool dry spot (can last 3–6 months)
Pro Tip: Add a few raw rice grains to absorb moisture inside the jar.
💡 Bonus Ideas
- 🎁 Gifting: Herbal salts make amazing handmade gifts. Wrap in brown paper or reusable jars with twine and custom labels.
- 🧴 Use with oil: Mix herbal salt with olive oil for a marinade or dipping oil.
- 🧼 Scented bath soak: Yep, you can even use curry leaf + lavender + salt in your bath (if you’re fancy like that).
📢 Tag Us!
Made your own herbal salt?
Post a pic of your creation and tag us on Instagram: @projectharvest.my
We’ll reshare your blends, jars, and taste tests!
🧂💚 Hashtags to include:#HerbalSaltDIY #HomegrownSpice #ProjectHARVEST #MalaysianGardener #TamanDapurMalaysia