• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Meet Richa

My Food Story logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Meet Richa
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • ×

    Home » Kitchen How To's

    Published: Sep 25, 2015 · Modified: Sep 25, 2019 by Richa · This post may contain affiliate links.

    5 easy ways to fix an oversalted dish

    Pin57
    Share8
    WhatsApp
    Email
    65 Shares

    We’ve all been there. Getting distracted by something else while cooking and realising towards the end that there’s too much salt. Or adding salt twice because you forgot about the first time you added it. A little taste test, and you gag. You wonder if you should throw away the dish and start all over again.

    Over-salting a dish is something that happens to all of us. But the next time it happens, don’t panic. I’ve put together some expert advice on how you can fix this tragedy, and not let it turn your day into a bad one.

    Add more ingredients to the dish

    This is the first and the simplest thing to do when you’ve added too much salt. Increase the quantity of the main ingredient without adding any more salt. This will ensure that the excess salt is absorbed and the flavours balance out. For instance, if you are making Gobhi Aloo, blanche a few extra florets of Gobhi or Cauliflower and add them to the dish, and then cook for a few minutes till the flavours are absorbed. While taking this route, make sure that you add cooked ingredients or some parts of your dish will end up getting overcooked.

    Add flour dumplings

    Here in India, most of us have some kind of dough or atta lying in the fridge. The next time you over season a dish, roll the dough into small balls and add them to your dish. Let this simmer for 10-15 minutes and the dumplings will absorb most of the salt. If you don't have ready dough, just make a firm dough by quickly kneading together whole wheat flour and water. Sometimes I even let the dumplings remain in the dish because they taste quite nice after they soak up some of the flavor and add some more depth to the dish.

    Add raw potato

    This is probably the oldest trick in the book and one that my mum taught me. Just peel and chop one or two potatoes and add them to your dish. As the potato cooks, it'll also absorb some of that saltiness. If it's a meaty curry, you may want to cook the potato till it's done and leave it in the curry too. Potatoes can also be subbed with rice, but that depends on what you are cooking.

    Add a touch of sweet and sour

    Sometimes fixing an over salted dish is just about balancing the flavours. So start by adding a little bit of sugar if sweet notes are acceptable in the dish, or a bit of vinegar/lemon juice if the dish will benefit from sourness. Taste and adjust the quantity till you feel that the saltiness has been minimised.

    Add some dairy

    If the dish allows it, add some dairy to it. This could be yogurt, milk, cream or even coconut milk if you are looking for a lactose free version. The choice of dairy will depend on the dish at hand. Dairy helps cut both the spice and salt, without diluting the dish too much, and can also add a wonderful creaminess to the dish.

    While these are great ways to fix excess salt, it’s best if you season a dish as you go. Salt is that one factor that can take an okay dish to great if done right. So adding salt little by little and tasting as you go will always ensure perfect seasoning.

    Image Courtesy: Free Stock Photo Site

    Pin57
    Share8
    WhatsApp
    Email
    65 Shares
    « All-In Sunday Veggie Pasta
    Badass Lamb Meatball Burger with Whiskey Sauce »

    * This post may contain affiliate links.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Latha says

      May 17, 2021 at 6:04 pm

      Mam only veg recipe pls I am a pure vegetarian no onion garlic and non veg

      Reply
    2. edlyngd says

      September 26, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      I would just throw it away, that's how weird I am. But I have used the potato trick. Good to know about the others. I think I've oversalted something only once and I couldn't bear to salvage it.

      Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Cooked this? Rate this recipe!




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi I'm Richa! the cook, writer and photographer behind this little blog. I’ve grown up in the kitchen along side my mum and grandmothers and conversations in my family are always about the next meal. I’ve picked up their love for food along the way, and with this blog, I share my food story with you.

    TOP RECIPES

    • Idli Dosa Batter - For soft idlis and crispy dosas!
    • Crispy Honey Chilli Potatoes - so easy to make at home!
    • Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala
    • Dhaba Style Chicken Curry
    • The Best Chicken Biryani (Step by step video recipe)
    • Soft Rotis - How to make them at home

    Christmas Favourites

    • Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Roasted Spatchcock Chicken with Orange Rosemary
    • Herb Garlic Roast Chicken
    • Danish Brown Butter Cookies - Perfect for gifting
    • How to make Panna Cotta - Classic Vanilla!
    • Last Minute Plum Cake (Christmas Fruit Cake)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top


    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Copyright

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    • About

    © COPYRIGHT 2022 MY FOOD STORY

    © Copyright 2023 My Food Story