Cooking with Confidence: How to Season Like a Pro

by Liana Werner-Gray
*This is a sponsored blog.

Now that the summer season is approaching, I know you’ll be gearing up to grill and cook fun and flavorful meals! One of the simplest ways to take your cooking from bland to brilliant is to master seasoning. And it all starts with choosing a seasoning that’s actually good for you – conventional seasoning is full of toxic ingredients.

I find that a decent amount of my clients and readers are intimidated by cooking, but here’s the thing – this is THE HACK: you just need a truly good seasoning! That’s it! A quality seasoning can enhance anything you cook.

Here are some of my favorite organic staples that go with different meals from Redmond Real Salt. I’ve been using Redmond for over 15 years, ever since I moved to America. The Earth Diet is all about eating locally and seasonally. If you’re in the USA, this salt is mined from an ancient seabed in Utah, which is way better than buying salt that comes all the way from the Himalayas.

These Redmond Real Salt seasonings are made with this mineral-rich salt (over 60 trace minerals) mixed with other organic ingredients like garlic, oregano, cumin, and parsley. I use Redmond seasonings in so many of The Earth Diet recipes because it’s completely unrefined and packed with trace minerals our bodies need. No additives, no bleach – just salt the way nature intended.

SEASONING PAIRING GUIDE:

🧄 Garlic Salt

– Roasted vegetables (sweet potatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, zucchini)
– Soups and stews
– Beef
– Tacos
– Eggs

🧂 Original Real Salt

– Chicken
– Soups and stews (during cooking)
– Eggs

🧡 Seasoning Salt

– Chicken
– Avocado toast
– Eggs

🌮 Taco Seasoning

– Beef or ground turkey
– Tacos
– Taco salads

🍋 Lemon Pepper

– Popcorn
– Roasted asparagus or broccoli
– Grilled fish (like salmon or cod)
– Eggs

🧄🌶️ Garlic Pepper Blend

– Avocado toast
– Roasted potatoes
– Grilled chicken or tofu

🧅 Onion Salt

– Popcorn
– Soups and stews (finishing touch)

If you love that rich, smoky flavor, you’ve got to try Redmond’s Smoked Real Salt. It’s made with their unrefined, mineral-rich salt and naturally smoked for hours, giving it that delicious campfire aroma without any artificial ingredients.

MY SMOKY SEASONING PAIRING GUIDE:

🌲 Hickory

– Vegetables (especially roasted or grilled)
– Steak
– Chicken
– Ribs or pulled pork
– Burgers
– Mushrooms
– Chili or bean stews

🍒 Cherry

– Fish (especially salmon or trout)
– Chicken
– Roasted carrots or sweet potatoes
– Duck or game meats
– BBQ sauces or glazes
– Grilled fruit (like pineapple or peaches)
– Bacon or plant-based bacon alternatives

👨‍🍳 Chef’s Blend

– Roasted or sautéed vegetables
– Eggs (scrambled, omelets)
– Avocado toast
– Grilled tofu or tempeh
– Popcorn or roasted chickpeas
– Soups and stews
– Breakfast hash

If smoky is your vibe, these seasonings are a must-have in your clean cooking lineup.

🧠💪 Why Salt Matters: A Science-Based Explanation

⚡️ 1. Salt = Sodium + Chloride

– Table salt is chemically sodium chloride (NaCl).
– Sodium and chloride are essential electrolytes, meaning they carry an electric charge and are critical for many bodily functions.

🧠 2. Brain Function

– Sodium helps generate electrical signals in the brain. Every time a nerve fires, it relies on the movement of sodium and potassium ions across cell membranes.
– Cognitive fog, confusion, and headaches can result from low sodium levels (hyponatremia).

💪 3. Muscle Contraction

– Sodium works alongside potassium and calcium to help muscles contract and relax properly.
– Without enough sodium, you may experience muscle cramps, weakness, or even spasms.

💧 4. Hydration and Fluid Balance

– Sodium is crucial for regulating fluid levels inside and outside of cells.
– It works with other electrolytes (like potassium and magnesium) to maintain blood pressure and prevent dehydration.
– Drinking too much water without enough salt can lead to electrolyte imbalance, which may be dangerous.

❤️ 5. Blood Pressure and Circulation

– Sodium helps maintain blood volume and pressure, which is why too little can cause low blood pressure and dizziness.
– The issue isn’t salt itself, but excessive refined salt combined with poor diet and lifestyle.

🔋 6. Energy and Adrenal Function

– Your adrenal glands use salt to produce hormones like aldosterone, which helps regulate sodium levels, energy, and stress response.
– Chronic low sodium can lead to fatigue, burnout, and adrenal dysfunction.

✅ The Key: Quality + Balance

– Refined table salt is stripped of minerals and often contains additives like anti-caking agents.
– Natural salts (like sea salt or Real Salt) contain trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium – which enhance their health benefits.
– Proper salt intake should be balanced with other electrolytes and tailored to your lifestyle (e.g., more needed if you’re sweating a lot or on a low-carb diet).

Salt is one of the most powerful flavor enhancers, but not all salts are created equal. Highly processed table salts often contain anti-caking agents and are stripped of their natural minerals. Redmond Real Salt is different – it brings out the flavor in food without overpowering it and helps your body stay in balance.

⚠️ Toxic Ingredients Commonly Found in Conventional Seasonings

– Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
– Artificial Colors (e.g., Yellow 5, Red 40)
– Anti-Caking Agents (e.g., Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Aluminosilicate)
– Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
– Refined Table Salt (often with additives)
– Sugar & Corn Syrup Solids
– “Natural Flavors”
– Preservatives (e.g., BHA, BHT)
– GMO Ingredients (e.g., corn, soy, canola)
– Yeast Extract

Seasoning Can Be Simple and Fun

People often tell me they don’t know how to season food without reaching for bottled dressings or pre-made marinades. That’s where Redmond comes in. Their pure salt and clean seasoning blends make it so easy to cook healthy, delicious meals.

These Redmond seasonings make excellent gifts! You can never go wrong with giving someone organic seasonings.

Confidence Comes with Practice

One of the most empowering things we can do for our health is learn to cook with real, natural ingredients. And the truth is, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Cooking is intuitive. It’s something our bodies remember how to do when we get back to the basics.

Start with simple meals – sauté some greens, roast seasonal veggies, or grill a clean protein. Use ingredients that come straight from the Earth – and season them with Redmond Real Salt, my absolute favorite! This salt isn’t just about flavor (though it seriously makes everything taste better) – it’s packed with natural minerals your body recognizes and craves.

When I host a barbecue, it’s amazing how just a sprinkle of Redmond Salt can completely enhance the flavor of everything, from veggie skewers to grilled meat. People always ask, “What did you use to season this?” And it’s so simple – just real, mineral-rich salt and a few herbs from the garden. That’s the magic of cooking with clean ingredients. It lets the natural flavors shine.

As you begin to cook more, you’ll notice your confidence growing. You’ll start to trust yourself – what flavors you like, how much seasoning you need, how your body feels after you eat. Cooking becomes a form of self-love and healing.

Check out this video from Chef Shawn showing exactly what a pinch of salt looks like.

Use code Liana for 15% off your next Redmond purchase!