What Is Salt and black pepper and How Can I Use It?
Wondering what to do with salt and black pepper? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 3,483 recipes to put it to work.
Key Points
- "Salt and black pepper" is a recipe seasoning pair, not one ingredient.
- Salt deepens and balances flavor; black pepper adds gentle heat and aroma.
- Season in stages and to taste; see the salt and black pepper pages for each.
What is salt and black pepper?
"Salt and black pepper" is the everyday seasoning pair most savory recipes start and finish with, not a single ingredient. The two do different jobs: salt deepens and balances flavor, while black pepper adds gentle heat and aroma. Season in stages and to taste.
For each on its own, see salt and black pepper.
Quick facts
Where to find salt and black pepper: Salt and black pepper is usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
- In Chinese
- 盐和黑胡椒
- British (UK) term
- Salt and black pepper
- en français
- sel et poivre noir
- en español
- sal y pimienta negro
Recipes using salt and black pepper
There are 3483 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Fried Leeks with Tarragon
An elegant and sophisticated appetizer that will impress your dinner guests and is ready in just 20 minutes. The leeks are trimmed, steamed, battered, and fried to a beautiful golden brown. The addition of tarragon and parsley adds a subtle yet delicious flavor to the dish. The result is a crispy and flavorful appetizer or side dish that is certain to wow your guests.
Marinated Pork Chops
Grilled pork chops marinated 6 hours in olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf, and dry mustard. A simple Mediterranean-style marinade for thick-cut chops.
Combo Burgers
Three-meat combo burgers: ground sirloin, pork, and veal blended with oats, chili sauce, and Worcestershire. Grilled patties with serious depth.
Apple & Celery Root Puree
Apple and celery root puree is an unusual combination of flavors. Perfect with braised meat!
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Watercress Pesto
These delicious yet nutritious sweet potato gnocchi is coated with refreshing and tangy watercress pesto. It's a dish that's packed with flavor and fills you up with all the goodness and yumminess.
Always Loved Vegetarian Chili
Vegetarian Chili with bulgur and vegetables--Vegetarian chili: hot satisfying dish for fans of meatless mains.
Tomato & Orange Soup
Creamy tomato and orange soup with fresh tomatoes, orange juice, orange zest and a swirl of cream. A British-style soup that's bright, velvety and full of citrus warmth.
Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Cheddar mashed potatoes made creamy with buttery Yukon Golds, tangy buttermilk, and extra-sharp cheddar melted right into the mash. Fresh chives add a green oniony bite to this lighter comfort-food side.
Egg Sandwich with Arugula
A pan-fried sunny-side up egg, fresh-peppery arugula, a bit hot pepper sauce and two slices of toasted whole grain bread together make a delicious and nutritious breakfast sandwich.
Curried Pumpkin Soup
Curried pumpkin soup with sweet pumpkin puree, golden sauteed onions, warm curry powder, and a swirl of half-and-half. A silky, autumn-spiced soup garnished with pepitas or chives.
Margaret's Garlicky Gazpacho
Garlicky gazpacho blended cold with six cloves of garlic, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and onions, sharpened with balsamic vinegar and tomato-vegetable juice. A bold, no-cook summer soup served chilled.
Sour Cabbage Salad
This salad fits to pierogi with the meat filling. You may also try it with fried or grilled fish.
Asparagus & Arugula Salad with Poached Eggs
This refreshing salad combines tender roasted asparagus, peppery arugula, and perfectly poached eggs for a light yet satisfying dish. A tangy lemon-mustard dressing ties it together, while a slice of crusty whole-grain bread soaks up the flavorful juices and adds fiber. Ideal for brunch or a quick dinner, this salad is both nutritious and delicious.
Tabouli Herb Salad
Lebanese tabbouleh herb salad heavy on fresh parsley and mint, fine bulgur, lemon and olive oil. Served on romaine leaves, the proper Middle Eastern way.
Barbecue Hamburgers
Barbecue hamburgers topped with a quick homemade sauce simmered from ketchup, pineapple juice, and onion. Pan-fried beef patties piled into soft rolls and spooned with a sweet-tangy barbecue glaze.
Shrimp Flavored Beef over Rice
My intention was to combine flavors of shrimp and beef inside the meat as well as inside the sauce..
Hamburgers on the Halfshell
Hamburgers on the halfshell, open-faced raw beef burgers broiled on a bun with tomato sauce, onions, pepper, and melted cheese. A pantry-clearing weeknight version of the classic burger.
Vegetable Omelet with Cheese
A fluffy Greek-style vegetable omelet loaded with sauteed peas, diced carrots, and tangy crumbled feta cheese. This easy breakfast egg dish comes together in under 40 minutes and makes a satisfying vegetarian meal any time of day.
Spiced Carrot & Orange Soup
Warm up a cool autumn day with this fragrant soup that is full of flavor in every spoonful.
Pork Hock with Pickled Sweet Red Pepper
I like this sour flavor. The best over buckwheat, but all is fine when over rice, potatoes, noodles, or just with lettuce mix. You may use pickled grilled red pepper.
Salad Platter
Creamy avocados, juicy-sweet tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, meaty chickpeas and salty olives are on top of a bed of lettuce or any your favorite greens. Drizzle some freshly homemade vinaigrette and serve with a few slices of good bread.
Bruschetta Hummus Stuffed Zucchini
Topped with a simple bruschetta this is a perfect side dish to enjoy all summer.
Classic Tuna Salad
Classic tuna salad with crunchy celery and onion, creamy mayo, tangy dry mustard, and a touch of sweet relish. The quick, crowd-pleasing filling for sandwiches, wraps, or crackers.
Olive & White Mushroom Soup with 3-colors Fusilli
Once upon a time I was reading a magazine article about good cooking. The journalist tried to convince me not to use some combinations of ingredients. One of the "banned" combinations mentioned was green and black olives. And so this soup was born to enjoy me.
Fingerling Potatoes with Hazelnut & Sage
A fairly simple yet delicious way to cook these beautiful fingerling potatoes. Sage and hazelnuts were deliciously combined with the potatoes. An excellent side dish.
Hummus Me Tahini
Authentic hummus me tahini: chickpeas pushed through a sieve and whipped with tahini, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. Traditional Greek-Mediterranean method.
Hummus #1
Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Topped with paprika-tinted olive oil and parsley for a smooth, creamy dip ready in 30 minutes.
Cold Minted Pea Soup
Chilled minted pea soup with Boston lettuce and fresh mint, pureed silky and served cold. A vegetarian summer starter that takes 15 minutes on the stove.
Easy Cream of Tomato Soup
Easy cream of tomato soup simmers fresh tomato juice with half-and-half and a generous handful of fresh basil. Smooth, creamy, and on the table in about 25 minutes. The homemade answer to the can.
Refreshing Tomato & Basil Soup
Vibrant roasted tomato basil soup with caramelized garlic and fresh herbs for healthy low-calorie vegetarian dinners ready in 60 minutes.
Beef & Vegetable Soup No. 2 (Instant Pot or not)
A beef vegetable soup made with homemade stock made one day ahead, featuring tender shredded beef, diced vegetables, and fresh herbs. A comforting and flavorful meal loaded with beefy goodness.
Fresh Tomato Soup Ala Terri
Fresh tomato soup with a bouquet garni of parsley, bay leaf, celery, thyme, and marjoram, pureed smooth with caramelized onion and a butter roux. Topped with sour cream and fresh dill.
Garlic & Fava Beans Soup
A soup which is a combination of Mediterranean garlic soups with a 17th century East European fava beans soup. Quite good.
Cucumber Soup with Spring Vegetables
All veggies are young, fresh and full of spring garden aroma. Is there anything more lovely?
Easy Parmesan Meatballs
Italian parmesan meatballs simmered directly in tomato sauce, made with ground beef, milk-soaked bread, garlic, and grated parmesan. Tender, classic, ready in 40 minutes.
Basic Yummy Gazpacho
No-cook gazpacho made with Roma tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, garlic, and white wine vinegar. Five-minute blender soup, vegan, naturally low-calorie, and ready as soon as it chills. Summer in a glass.
Grilled Chicken Breasts with Wild Mushroom & Bourbon Sauce
Tender lemon-rosemary chicken meets an earthy wild mushroom sauce spiked with bourbon, creating layers of savory depth perfect for elegant dinners.
Chilled Sonoma Tomato Vegetable Soup
California-style chilled gazpacho built from peak summer tomatoes, English cucumber, red bell peppers, jalapeno, serrano, and a chiffonade of fresh herbs. Vegan, low-fat, and made for blistering Sonoma afternoons.
Herb Chili Burgers
Mediterranean herb chili burgers blend ground beef with chopped tomato, black olives, garlic, dill, lemon zest, and chili powder. A grilled patty with serious global flavor.
Brussels Sprouts, Kale & Bell Pepper Frittata
A golden, veggie-packed frittata with tender brussels sprouts, earthy kale, sauteed mushrooms, and melty Swiss cheese. This quick vegetarian breakfast or brunch comes together in 30 minutes with just one skillet.
Veggie & Plum Flatbread
Onions, bell peppers and plums are arranged over the bread dough or pizza dough that's brushed with garlic olive oil. It's a cheese free flatbread but still so yummy.
Creamed Tomato Soup
Creamy tomato soup made from scratch with ten ripe tomatoes, onion, thyme, and basil, blended silky and finished with cream, milk, and a swirl of butter. A rich, homemade bowl made for grilled cheese.
Watermelon, Arugula & Feta Salad
Sweet-juicy watermelon cubes, peppery arugula leaves, salty and creamy feta cheese are tossed with a light balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette. A great summer salad that adds some refresh-ness to your BBQ.
Easy & Yummy Gazpacho
Classic gazpacho, the chilled Spanish tomato soup with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, and a bright lime-and-lemon finish. No-cook summer dish, ready after a 2-hour chill.
Two Onions, Pineapple & Olive Flatbread
Quick-easy to make, and it tastes delicious. This is a dairy-free flatbread, garlic-infused olive oil is brushed over the bread dough and topped with onions, bell peppers, olives and pineapples that are being seasoned.
Pasta Shells with Salmon, Tomatoes & Toasted Bread Crumbs
This easy and simple recipe also came out delicious. Lemon juice added a touch of refreshing taste, and the overall flavour was well balanced. Giving this dish a five star.
