Shake up your cooking with a gourmet sprinkle of Secret Stash Salts

Gourmet salts have become increasingly popular as intrepid home cooks demand ever more sophisticated ingredients. Coarse Fleur de Sel salt, harvested off of the French island of Re, is now readily found in grocery stores.

Despite the fact that high-end condiments such as fancy salts are no longer solely the possession of the culinary elite, professional chefs do still have their own bags of tricks, according to Joseph Conrad, executive chef at Twist restaurant in Belltown.

Last fall, Conrad and business partner Janna Wemmer launched Secret Stash Salts, drawing from Conrad's personal collection of finishing salts that he has used in his kitchen for years. The line's 12 uniquely flavored salt blends are meant to be sprinkled on dishes just before serving.

Conrad and Wemmer handcraft each batch, blending pure, hand-harvested Fleur de Sel salt with flavorful ingredients such as reduced stocks, lemon peel, local honey, lavender from Whidbey Island and apple cider from Enumclaw's Rockridge Orchards and Cidery.

Varieties include Chorizo, Cherry Pistachio, Almond Cardamom, Apple Five-Spice, Bloody Mary, Coconut Masala, Nicoise Olive, Pineapple Cumin, Soy, Vanilla, Lavender Rosemary and the newest addition, Smoked Chipotle.

The label on the lid of each jar lists suggestions for use and food pairings. The Secret Stash Web site offers adventuresome recipes for each blend (Alaskan Halibut Ceviche with Vanilla Salt, Roasted Rabbit Loin with Soy Salt), and their blog is updated frequently with simple meal plans such as Smoked Chipotle Chicken and Steamed Clams with Wine and Chorizo Salt.

Secret Stash Salts sell in 3.5-ounce jars for between $8 and $16.50. They are available at the Ballard and Queen Anne Farmers Markets and online at www.secretsalts.com.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company