Flavored Chili Salts from The Chili Lab Will Take Your Dishes to the Next Level...Both Flavor and Heat Wise (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

If owning popular Mexicue restaurants in NYC wasn't enough, successful Brooklyn-based entrepreneur, Thomas Kelly has branched out further and introduced a line of chile sea salts.  Available through The Chili Lab , Kelly created a line of chile sea salts as a way of introducing the different chili peppers and their flavors to home cooks. 

"At the Chili Lab, we like playing with our food.  We believe that through play and experimentation, you make great dishes. Through many years of playing with chili peppers, we’ve realized that like wine or coffee beans, these peppers are incredibly diverse and nuanced in their flavors. Dried guajillo chilies from Mexico, for instance, are deep and earthy; the piri piri chili from Africa is more herbal and marked with citrus.

The Chili Lab creates Chili Salts and other products which explore these varied flavors. Of course we love that chili bite, but we’re more interested in how these great peppers can easily invigorate cooking at home."

The Essential Chili Salt Collection -- Only $32.40

I recently had the opportunity to try out Kelly's popular The Essential Chili Salt Collection, and can see why so many people love these chili salts, and continue to buy and recommend them to family and friends.  

When it comes to cooking in the kitchen, besides olive oil for cooking, I also have salt and pepper handy, to season and add flavor to whatever it is I am cooking. If I ever find a dish is lacking in flavor, I can count on a few shakes of salt and pepper to add much needed flavor to the food.  But, never did I think to have chili salts on hand for an extra kick, until now!

Even if you are not one who loves "heat" or spicy foods, once you try using The Chili Lab's assortment of flavored chili salts in some of your favorite dishes, you will wonder how you ever lived without them.  

I love when a website offers up recipes and suggestions on how to use their unique products, and the folks at The Chili Lab spare no expense in sharing countless easy to prepare entrees, side dishes and more.  Just look at some of their suggested recipes to try using their flavored chili salts -- http://thechililab.com/blogs/news.

Included in The Essential Chili Salt Collection I was sent to try out, are the following flavored chili salts, along with their flavor profile and suggested use:

Piri Piri Chili Salt

Flavor profile: herb & citrus
Spice Level: medium heat
Batch #: 2001

RUB

Fish & Poultry

SEASON

Stir Fry & Quinoa

FINISH

Salad & Crudo

Chipotle Chili Salt

Flavor profile: red berry smoke
Spice Level: medium heat
Batch #: 2001

RUB

Beef & Game

SEASON

Pasta & Wild Rice

FINISH

Grilled Pizza & Soup

Pequin Chili Salt

Flavor profile: citrus & light smoke
Spice Level: heavy heat
Batch #: 2001

RUB

Fish & Poultry

SEASON

Stir Fry & Quinoa

FINISH

Salad & Crudo

Find more ideas for using our Chili Salts in  Field Notes. 

From seasoning stir fry, pasta, rices and even quinoa to sprinkles a little chili salt over salads, stews and soups, you will be amazed, just like I was as how something so basic as a flavored salt can transform a meal in seconds, and give it that kick and bite you have been longing for. :-)  

While I had been hoping to create new, original recipes using the three chili salts I was sent to review, I found myself printing out over a dozen of the recipes found at The Chili Lab's website and was eager to try them out.  

Sweet and Spicy Salmon

• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 cloves of garlic crushed
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of Habanero Chili Salt
• 2 pounds salmon fillets, about 1 inch thick
• 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Salad

50/50 Blend Baby Spinach/Spring Mix
Dressing Simple Olive oil vinaigrette

Fish

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a bowl add together the garlic, olive oil, union powder, brown sugar, and fresh lime juice. Season the salmon with the Chili lab sea salt and place on baking sheet then coat with the prepared mixture.

3 .Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

4. It’s as simple as that!

Recipe Source: Rachel Saez

Spicy Creamy Tomato Soup -- Pairs well with grilled cheese sandwiches

• 2 (15-ounce) containers, chicken or vegetable stock/broth
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes with liquid
•  1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup finely diced carrots
• 1 cup finely diced onions
• 1 cup finely diced celery
• 1/4 cup fresh basil
• 1 tsp thyme
• The Chili Lab Salt to taste

1. Place carrots, celery, and unions in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes until golden.
2. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker for 4 hours, or a pressure cooker for 30 minutes, or cook on a stove top covered for an hour or until veggies are completely soften.
3. With an immersion blender, puree soup.
4. Garnish with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
5. It’s as simple as that!

Recipe Source: Rachel Saez

Piri Piri Parchment baked Citrus Herb Tilapia

• 1 1/2 teaspoon of Piri Piri Chili Salt
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh tilapia fillets
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 thyme stems

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fold a large piece of parchment paper  in half to crease it; open, and lay it flat.

 

2.On one side of crease place salmon on top. Then drizzle with lemon juice, and season with Garlic and Piri Piri Chili Salt. Place thyme and lemon slices

 

3.To close, fold parchment over the Tilapia; make small overlapping pleats to seal the open sides and create a half-moon-shaped packet.  Bake 10 to 15 minutes. It's as simple as that!

Recipe Source: Rachel Saez

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In addition to the above recipes, I was able to add a pinch here and there when cooking up meals in the kitchen for my husband and I, and loved hearing him rave about how which just a little flavored chili salt from The Chili Lab, I was able to add a whole new dimension to family favorite recipes.  And, the kick of heat was not overpowering for family and friends who came to visit and stay for dinner, which was great, as I didn't want to have to worry about people running from the table to grab some water to put out a fire in their mouths. :-)

Out of the three chili sea salts I was sent to review, I have to say that my personal favorite and one I seem to reach for more often, now that these chili sea salts sit next to my salt and pepper shakers, is the Piri Piri Chili Salt.  I find that this chili salt pairs well with practically all dishes, and carries just the right about of heat, along with its herbal and citrus flavor profile, to tantalize everyone's palette.  But, for those times I am looking to turn up the heat on stews, chili or other spicy dishes, I will reach for the penquin chili salt, as I know that this slightly smoky salt carries the heat that will have you sit up and take notice.  My husband, who loves all things hot and spicy, can't get enough of this chili salt, and will oftentimes bring the jar to the table to sprinkle over his food, for a little added kick. :-)

"With grilling season on the horizon, The Chili Lab salts can be thought of as a minimalist rub that will awaken your taste buds to new and delicious flavors. They are also a perfect gift idea for friends and family. Plus, The Chili Lab supports local businesses whereby their partners consist of local artists, designers, producers writers and printers to create and market The Chili Labs line of chili salts."

Currently, The Chili Lab blends 9 different flavors of chili salts including the piri piri chili from Africa that boasts an herb and citrus flavor with medium heat, and the guajillo chili from Mexico, which features a smoke and tomato flavor with medium heat. Learn about all 9 chili salt flavors and anticipate even more blends of salts this year by visiting http://thechililab.com/collections/all.

Don't forget to follow The Chili Lab on their social media pages for special offers, new product additions and more...

• The Chili Lab on Facebook
• The Chili Lab on Twitter

---BUY NOW---

Want to buy the Essential Chili Salt Collection for your kitchen, or to give as a gift?  Then, head on over to The Chili Lab website to browse this and other product offerings, than can be ordered directly from their online store.  

And, just for Inspired by Savannah readers, from now through the end of May, The Chili Lab will offer a 15% discount on any purchase of chili salts purchased through their online store.  All you have to do to take advantage of this limited time offer is to enter “pollen-8” in the promo code area during check out ,and the discount will be applied.  http://thechililab.com/collections/all

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.