What is Svan mixture - what is the seasoning used for?

Not everyone knows what Svan salt is and what the seasoning is used for. In fact, it is a spicy mixture based on salt crystals to which various spices have been added.

Svanetian salt was invented in Georgia, where it is considered a national culinary treasure. The seasoning may include both table and sea salt. Some cooks modify the traditional recipe by adding other spices. The result is a spicy salt with a rich taste and rich aroma.

What dishes are Svan salt added to?

Svan salt is added to many dishes. It can be used to prepare:

• fresh vegetable salads;
• meat and fish soups;
• vegetable stew;
• second courses of meat and fish;
• some desserts.

The spice is an indispensable component of national Georgian dishes, for example, lobio, chakhokhbili, kubdari. The taste of food with this seasoning is transformed, because the Svan mixture includes spicy herbs and seeds.By the way, flavored salt is added in smaller quantities than regular salt, which can be considered an additional advantage.

What can't be combined with

Svan salt is used, like other spices. The mixture is not added to milk soups, cocktails, cereals, puddings, or sweet drinks. The product is inappropriate for preparing desserts, cakes, and fruit salads. Svan salt is not used for baking.

Compound

In Georgia, each family makes Svan salt in its own way, however, there are common components that must be included in the mixture. Among them:

• table or sea salt;
• chopped garlic;
• hot red pepper;
• coriander;
• savory;
• marjoram;
• black pepper;
• utskho-suneli;
• Imeretian saffron.

Sometimes basil, fennel, dill seeds, caraway seeds, and parsley are added to the composition. Spicy seasoning contains vitamins and minerals, promotes better digestion of food, and improves the condition of blood vessels. At the same time, those who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases in the acute stage and those with allergies should not get carried away with salt.

Smell and taste of seasoning

Svan salt smells like garlic and all the spices that are added to it. The smell will be spicy in any case, regardless of the quantity and ratio of ingredients. The taste of the mixture is salty, with additional notes of pungency and bitterness.

How to choose good quality Svan salt?

It is not difficult to prepare the Svan mixture yourself; the problem may lie in the inaccessibility of some components. That is why most cooks prefer to purchase a ready-made composition.

The quality of the seasoning will be determined by its appearance and smell. The mixture should not be sticky. High-quality Svan salt has a crumbly texture. Alas, the buyer will be able to evaluate the product by smell only at home, after opening the package.The aroma should be strong and harmonious, without the pronounced dominance of any one ingredient.

Where and how to store?

Store the seasoning in a dark place, under a tightly closed lid. You can use a regular kitchen cabinet as a storage place. The tightness of the packaging will allow the mixture to retain its friability and spicy aroma. When properly stored, the spice does not change its properties for 2-3 years. After this period, the seasoning will not deteriorate, just its aroma and taste will become much weaker.

TOP 5 popular recipes with Svan salt

In some dishes, Svanetian salt is an indispensable ingredient. For others, it becomes an unexpected flavor accent.

Lobio (real Georgian recipe)

Ingredients:

• beans – 300 g;
• bell pepper – 1 pc.;
• a bunch of fresh herbs - basil, dill, cilantro;
• Svan salt - to taste.

Cooking steps:

1. Soak the beans in the evening, add water to them in the morning and bring to a boil.
2. Then drain the water and refill it (then the beans are better digested).
3. Cook the beans for about 2 hours.
4. Meanwhile, peel the tomatoes, pour boiling water over them and cut into cubes.
5. Cut the onion and bell pepper into half rings, fry the vegetables until they become soft, and add them to the pan with the beans, without turning off the heat.
6. Finely chop the greens and throw them into the pan.
7. Season the dish with Svan salt and simmer for about 10 minutes.

The finished lobio can be served immediately.

New potatoes with dill

Ingredients:

• new potatoes – 500 g;
• chopped fresh dill - 2 tbsp. l.;
• vegetable oil – 3-4 tbsp. l.;
• Svan mixture - to taste.

Cooking process:

1. Wash the potatoes, but do not peel them.
2. Fry in a frying pan in vegetable oil until golden brown.
3. Place the potatoes on a paper towel to remove excess fat.

Transfer the dish to a plate, sprinkle chopped herbs and Svan salt on top.

Pork ribs in BBQ sauce

Ingredients:

• pork ribs – 1.5 kg;
• garlic – 6 cloves;
• BBQ sauce – 150 g;
• vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Svan salt - to taste.

How to cook:

1. Wash the ribs and dry with paper towels.
2. Pass the garlic through a press.
3. Rub the ribs with garlic and Svan salt, cover and leave to marinate for 1 hour.
4. Transfer the meat to a baking sleeve or wrap it in foil, adding a little vegetable oil.
5. Cook for 1.5 hours in an oven preheated to 180°C.
6. Open the foil or sleeve, brush the ribs with barbecue sauce on all sides, and bake for another 15 minutes.

After removing from the oven, place the ribs on a plate and cover with a lid to rest for 10 minutes.

Vegetable salad with herbs and nuts

Ingredients:

• large tomatoes – 2 pcs.;
• medium cucumbers – 2 pcs.;
• crushed walnuts – 2 tbsp. l.;
• a bunch of greens - cilantro, parsley, dill, tarragon.

For refueling:

• Kakhetian oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
• Svan mixture - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Cut the tomatoes into slices.
2. Chop the cucumbers into cubes.
3. Finely chop the greens.
4. Fry the nuts in a dry frying pan and grind.
5. Combine vegetables, herbs, and nuts in a large bowl.
6. Season with Kakhetian oil and Svan mixture.

Mix the ingredients and let the salad sit for a while before serving.

Lightly salted salmon

Ingredients:

• piece of salmon with skin – 400-500 g;
• coarse sea salt - 2 tbsp. l.;
• Svan salt – 1 pinch.

Preparation:

1. Mix Svan and sea salt.
2. Coat the fish flesh with the spicy mixture.
3. Place the salmon in a glass dish, cover with cling film and refrigerate for 8 hours.

After the specified time, scrape off the remaining mixture from the surface of the fish with a knife. After this, you can cut the salmon into thin slices and serve.

Svan salt has long become a popular seasoning outside of Georgia. Spice fans loved this mixture and added it to their kitchens. Those who like to experiment can try making the seasoning themselves, playing with the proportions of spices to get the desired taste.