The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

797: Melissa Clark’s Deep Dive into Salt & Crystal Wilkinson on her Kitchen Ghosts

Feb 14, 2025

Melissa Clark, The New York Times cooking columnist, takes us on a deep dive into the world of salt. From salt harvesting to the revival of artisanal salts, she shares their uses in cooking. Crystal Wilkinson, an award-winning author, talks about her memoir honoring her maternal ancestors, the kitchen ghosts, and their presence in her life while cooking.

50:19

Episode guests

Melissa Clark

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Different types of hand-harvested salts can enhance the flavor of dishes, elevating them from good to extraordinary.

Cooking can evoke a sense of connection to ancestors and heritage, with the presence of kitchen ghosts being felt during the preparation of certain recipes.

Deep dives

The Significance of Cooking with Salt

The podcast episode discusses the importance of salt in cooking and how different types of salts can enhance the flavor of dishes. The host interviews a cooking columnist who explains the process of hand-harvested salts in France, England, and Oregon. The unique properties and textures of these salts are explored, highlighting their ability to elevate the taste of dishes. The podcast emphasizes the role of salt in transforming a dish from good to extraordinary.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Unique Salts

6min

The History and Importance of Specialty Salts

11min

Tasting salt and bean-centric main dishes

3min

Cooking Tips and Benefits of Using an Instant Pot

5min

Kitchen Ghosts: Ancestral Inspiration

25min

This week, we talk to two award-winning authors about their latest work. First, The New York Times cooking columnist Melissa Clark talks to us about her deep dive into the world of salt. From exploring salt harvesting in France to the history and revival of artisanal salts, she walks us through different types of salt and their uses in cooking. She sticks around to answer your cooking questions. Melissa Clark's latest book is Dinner in One, and for a taste of her style, check out her recipe for Roasted Cauliflower & Potatoes with Harissa, Yogurt & Toasted Almonds. Then, award-winning author Crystal Wilkinson talks to us about her new memoir, honoring her maternal ancestors, her kitchen ghosts. She talks about feeling them deeply while cooking and realizing their presence in her life. Crystal's memoir is Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks, and she leaves us with her recipe for Indian Creek Skillet Cornbread.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

February 9, 2024 (originally aired)

February 14, 2025 (rebroadcast)

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