No other ingredient has such a dramatic effect on food. To The Times Thinly sliced salmon makes a perfect canape topping or garnish for salad. No other ingredient has such a dramatic salutary effect on so many different foods and in so many different ways. Furthermore, salt is a formidable tool. Salt cures and preserves meats and fish by drawing out moisture.
Salt is what makes a brine work, and it is the means for koshering chicken.
Excellent sea salts, such as fleur de sel and sel gris, which come from the coastal regions of northern France, are effective as textural garnish in and of themselves. It sets off a tiny explosion of flavor and texture. Set salmon skin side down on a baking sheet lined with foil and a bed of salt. Rub with a mixture of lemon, orange, lime and grapefruit zests. Of course, most salt in the American diet comes from processed foods, which are packed with various forms of sodium.