Easy Lemon Herb Salt for Cooking & Gifting

If you have fresh herbs growing in your garden, homemade herb salt is one of the easiest ways to preserve their flavor for later.

This lemon herb salt adds bright citrus flavor along with herbs, making it a versatile seasoning to keep in your kitchen.

I especially love using it on roasted vegetables, chicken, fish, potatoes, salads, and homemade bread. It’s also a simple homemade gift for anyone who loves cooking with fresh herbs.

Why You’ll Love Lemon Herb Salt

• Easy to make with just a few ingredients
• A great way to use herbs from the garden
• Adds bright lemon flavor to everyday meals
• Makes a thoughtful homemade food gift
• Easy to customize with your favorite herbs
• A simple way to add more flavor without reaching for several different seasonings

Lemon Herb Salt Ingredients

• 1 cup coarse sea salt or kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons dried lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons dried herbs
• 1 teaspoon dried garlic, optional

For the herbs, I like thyme, rosemary, basil, parsley, or sage. You can use one herb or a combination depending on what you have available.

Important Note About the Lemon Zest

Make sure the lemon zest is completely dry before making this salt. Any remaining moisture can cause the salt mixture to clump and can shorten its storage life.

You can dry lemon zest in a food dehydrator or in the oven at a very low temperature until it is completely crisp.

How to Make Lemon Herb Salt

1. Prepare the Lemon Zest

Zest the lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith underneath the yellow skin.

Spread the zest in a thin layer and dry completely.

2. Dry the Herbs

If you’re using fresh herbs from the garden, wash them and dry them thoroughly before dehydrating.

The herbs should be completely dry and crisp before making your herb salt.

3. Combine the Ingredients

Add the salt, dried lemon zest, dried herbs, and garlic if using to a food processor.

Pulse several times until the lemon and herbs are finely chopped and evenly distributed throughout the salt.

Don’t over-process it into a paste. You want a coarse, seasoning-like texture.

4. Store Your Lemon Herb Salt

Transfer the finished lemon herb salt to a clean, dry glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Store it in a cool, dry pantry away from moisture.

How to Use Lemon Herb Salt

This is one of those homemade seasonings you’ll find yourself reaching for constantly.

Try it on:

• Roasted potatoes
• Roasted vegetables
• Grilled chicken
• Fish and seafood
• Homemade bread and focaccia
• Salads
• Pasta
• Rice and grain bowls
• Eggs
• Fresh tomatoes
• Steamed vegetables

It’s especially good sprinkled over vegetables just before roasting. The lemon gives them a bright flavor while the herbs add a little extra depth.

Other Homemade Herb Salts to Try

If you enjoy making your own seasoning blends, I have several other homemade herb salt recipes you might want to try:

• Rosemary Sage Herb Salt
• Everyday Sage Herb Salt
• Lavender Herb Salt
• Chive Herb Salt
• Basil Herb Salt
• Dill Herb Salt
• Garlic Herb Salt
• Rosemary Herb Salt

And if you want to try several varieties, check out my herb salt roundup for even more homemade seasoning ideas.

A Simple Way to Preserve Garden Herbs

I love recipes like this because they turn something as simple as a handful of herbs from the garden into something you’ll actually use all year.

Instead of letting extra herbs go to waste, you can dry them, combine them with salt and lemon, and create a homemade seasoning that makes everyday cooking just a little easier.

Lemon herb salt is one of those little pantry staples that looks fancy but couldn’t be easier to make.

Follow my kitchen garden living board on Pinterest.