How to Cook a Hanger Steak on a Himalayan Salt Block

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How to Cook a Hanger Steak on a Himalayan Salt Block

I got a Himalayan salt block as a gift a couple of years ago, but was too intimidated by its beauty to use it. I am over it now. Let's get down with some meat and salt.

Deanna Dawson

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Step 1 of 15

I got this salt block as a gift two years ago but was too intimidated by its beauty to use it.

Step 2 of 15

Many thanks to Mark Bitterman of The Meadow for demystifying the process of cooking on salt for me. (You should buy his book!)

Step 3 of 15

You will need a salt block of at least 1 inch thick, preferably 1.5 inches thick. To start your cooking, place your salt block on a gas burner over LOW heat.

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The most important thing to know about cooking on salt is that you need to heat the salt up sloooooooowly. After you have heated the block over low heat for 10 minutes, turn the heat up to medium low.

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Next, slooooowly turn your heat up to medium. Patience is a virtue!

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Patience! Turn that heat up to medium high, and heat for another 10 minutes.

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I used a good quality hanger steak for this recipe. You could also use flank steak. Both are very flavorful, with a great chew-y texture.

Step 8 of 15

This is what the hanger steak looks like. If you use flank steak, you'll want to cut it in half lengthwise. Then, cut your meat into 1/4 inch strips of 2-3 inches in length, cutting against the grain.

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Turn the heat up to high. The salt block is hot enough when it is too hot to hold your hand 2 inches above it, and/or when a piece of meat sizzles like crazy when you drop it on the salt block.

Step 10 of 15

Cook the steak strips over high heat for 5 seconds (yes, you read that right, 5 SECONDS) and then flip over-

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Cook for another 5 seconds. Repeat this process until you have cooked all the steak strips. (Don't crowd the salt block!)

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This is what your steak will look like when it is done!

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Serve with salad, sweet potato, etc.

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When you are done cooking, you may be tempted to clean your salt block immediately. You must resist this temptation! Just as it takes a long time to heat, salt takes a long time to cool!

Step 15 of 15

Let your salt block cool to room temp, then scrub gently with a brush or sponge and warm water. Do NOT use soap. Rinse. Dry well. Store in a place with low humidity- and get ready to use it again!

You're Done

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Deanna Dawson

Seattle, Washington

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Himalayan salt block

Hanger steak

I am Rashid from Pakistan if any body interested about salt blocks an other items about salt products please contact with me our website address (WWW.NEXTFORWARD.COM) Thanks

N F Salt Lamps 3 months ago

Yummy!!!!!

Serena W 11 months ago

Where can i find these salt blocks?

Salih Seckin Sevinc 12 months ago

Very nice

Eduardo Flyaway 12 months ago

Does the meat taste overwhelmingly salty?

Alex Mathews 12 months ago

Interesting. Very interesting

Yvonne Kirk 12 months ago

ESK was inspired by your excellent guide to instruct me to try to score a dinner invitation to your place!

Jennifer Koh 12 months ago

I found salt blocks at Sur la Tabla that we're less costly than most. They came with minimal instructions, but you can heat them in your oven as well, just go slowly so it doesn't crack the block and be patient as it takes some time to get the heat up.

Jana Williams 12 months ago

Very cool

Melissa Kwan 12 months ago

I was asking the butcher at my local Whole Foods (Noe Valley) about meat options for cooking on a salt block, he said he'd never heard of cooking on salt however I was the 2nd person to ask him that night. I can only attribute your Snapguide to the new found popularity of cooking on a salt blocks in San Francisco. Thanks for the inspiration to try it out, dinner was great!

Brett Butterfield last year

I have been wanting to try this for years. Thanks for the how to!

David Booker last year

Don't wash it. She explains how to clean it or you can take a grill brush and scrape the top layer off and take a damp rag and wipe till smooth

Jonathan King-Williams last year

Is it going to eventually dissolve completely after washing?

Taylor M last year

Interesting way of cooking

Clement Chai last year

This is fantastic way of cooking! and so paleo (diet). Thanks for sharing!

Kornelia Rybacka last year

Now I NEED a salt block and a heat diffusing ring. So cool!!!

Debbie Maksel Cullen last year

I had never even heard of this. Really interesting and inspiring guide, well done!

Gustav S last year

I need to get one of those salt blocks.

Aaron Niziol last year

Mark Bitterman also sells salt blocks at his shop, The Meadow (http://www.atthemeadow.com/). They've also got a guide to cooking on salt blocks if you want some more details.

Mark Chapman last year

Very nice! First time for me learning that you can cook on salt blocks.

Idit Wellner last year

That was awesome. Never seen that done before. Excellent guide as well. Thx.

T Lattisaw last year

Thanks for taking the time to teach!

Jonathan Schultz last year

Cool, have to try this. The only salt blocks I knew of were the ones that cows lick

Brian Yanish last year

I think I didn't get mine hot enough the only time I tried it, thanks for posting a guide! They are neat.

Jana Williams last year

Does the meat taste salty. I have high blood pressure so excessive salt is my enemy. Looks interesting. I want to try it.

Renee Vee last year

This is very interesting! looks yummy and special!!

Aki Kuwabara last year

Awesome!! Must try now!

Johnny Chin last year

Never even knew that a salt block existed 😍 it looks amazing .

Julia Murray last year

Totally intrigued!

Bunny Weeks last year

This is fantastic! Thank you! :)

Monique Guzman last year

Dear friends/family: Please purchase me a Himalayan salt block! Yum.

Monica Whitman last year

You can find salt blocks at many cooking stores- I recommend ordering from The Meadow online (or in person in PDX or NYC). Linda, you can use with an electric stove but you'd need a heat diffusing ring. You can also use on an outdoor grill. (But NOT in an oven!) The salt tenderizes and favors the meat. (Or whatever you cook- I recommend scallops. And bacon and eggs!) When done cooking (and cooling- see step 15) you can scrub residue off. Do NOT use soap. Enjoy!

Deanna Dawson (author) last year

Ha! if the salt didn't flavor the meat why would you go to all that trouble? but what if you don't have a gas grill...? bummer.

Linda Mitchell last year

I think you just sent the market for salt blocks sky high. Steak! It's whats for dinner!

Noni Mouse last year

I want to order these!! Is there a store you can pick it up from?

Jonathan King-Williams last year

Interesting, cool and informative guide! Seriously didn't know you could cook on a salt block!! Doesn't the salt do anything special to what you cook on it? And can you cook more than just meat?

Cameron Tucker last year