Jake Harper
Chicken salt is a uniquely Australian condiment, with a shorter history than other Australian staples like Vegemite. It was invented in the early 1970s by Peter Brinkworth as a seasoning for roast chickens sold in his South Australian chicken shop. The Mitani family bought the recipe in 1979 and began selling it commercially, and it soon became the preferred sprinkle for hot chips across Australia. While chicken salt remains largely unknown outside of Australia, it can now be purchased in the United States, with Amazon selling a couple of versions, one of which is made in Australia and the other carrying the words An Australian tradition. This begs the question: is there an American version of Australian chicken salt?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Australia |
| Main Ingredient | Salt |
| Other Ingredients | Chicken, onion, garlic, mushroom powder, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, sumac, celery, mustard flour, rice flour, spices, vegetable powders, yeast extract, wheat flour, wheat starch, sugar, maltodextrin, beef fat, bell pepper powder, herbs, soy sauce powder, etc. |
| Flavour | Savoury, umami, hints of garlic or onion, sometimes paprika |
| Colour | Fluorescent yellow or orange |
| Dietary Requirements | Most versions are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free |
| Use Cases | Seasoning for roast chicken, rim for cocktail glasses, marinade, dry rub, sprinkle for popcorn, fries, or roasted vegetables |
| Commercial Availability in the U.S. | Yes, Amazon sells a couple of versions, one made in Australia and the other by Jada, labelled as "An Australian Tradition" |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken salt is largely only found, sold and used in Australia
Chicken salt was invented by Peter Brinkworth in the early 1970s as a seasoning for the roast chickens he sold in his shop in South Australia. Brinkworth's recipe included onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, chicken bouillon and monosodium glutamate. Brinkworth sold his business and the recipe to the Mitani family in 1979, and they began selling the product commercially to the takeaway food industry.
Mitani's chicken salt is now sold in retail stores and the company exports a small amount to the UK. Mitani claims to be the originator of chicken salt and was responsible for its popularity in the fish and chip shops of Australia. However, there are now competitors, including Anchor Chicken Chippy Salt, which has a different ingredients list.
Chicken salt is largely unknown outside of Australia, although it is available in America through Amazon and some restaurants. It is considered Australia's most underrated culinary gift and is a national obsession.
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It is made from real chicken and other ingredients
Chicken salt is a seasoning that originated in Australia in the 1970s. It was invented by Peter Brinkworth as a flavouring for the roast chickens he sold in his chicken shop in Gawler, South Australia. Brinkworth's original recipe included onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, chicken bouillon and monosodium glutamate.
Chicken salt is primarily made from salt and various herbs and spices, and most versions are vegan. However, some recipes do contain actual chicken, usually in the form of dehydrated chicken meat and fat. For example, the Australian restaurant Dudley's in New York City makes its own chicken salt by rendering and dehydrating chicken skin before blending it with mushroom powder, two types of salt, white pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Chicken salt can be purchased in the US, with Amazon selling at least two versions, one of which is made in Australia and the other carrying the words "An Australian tradition" on its packaging. It can also be found in some Korean grocers and wholesalers.
Chicken salt is a versatile seasoning that can be used to rim a cocktail glass, as a marinade or dry rub for chicken, or simply sprinkled on popcorn, roasted vegetables, or fries for an Australian takeaway classic.
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It is used to season roast chicken and fries
Chicken salt is a seasoning blend used to enhance the flavours of roast chicken and fries. It originated in Australia in the 1970s and has since become a popular condiment in the country, especially for seasoning roast chicken and fries. While it may seem unusual, chicken salt does not actually contain chicken. Instead, it is a blend of various herbs and spices, including salt, garlic, onion, paprika, celery, and mustard flour. Some versions may also include dehydrated mushroom powder, two types of salt (kosher and sea salt), white pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Chicken salt is known for its intense savoury flavour, often described as "umami". It is said to add a transformative zing to roast chicken and fries, taking these dishes to the next level. In Australia, it is commonly used as a seasoning for roast chicken, either as a marinade or a dry rub. For fries, chicken salt is often sprinkled on top, adding a burst of flavour.
While chicken salt is predominantly found and used in Australia, it has gained some popularity in the United States. Amazon sells a couple of versions, including one made in Australia and another with the words "An Australian tradition" on its packaging, indicating that it is marketed as an Australian-style chicken salt. However, it is important to note that chicken salt is not limited to these two countries, and people from other parts of the world have also expressed interest in and experimented with this unique seasoning blend.
Preparing roast chicken and fries with chicken salt can be done in a few simple steps. For roast chicken, combine olive oil and chicken salt powder to create a paste. Rub this paste generously over the exterior of the chicken before roasting it according to your preferred recipe. As for fries, it is as simple as sprinkling chicken salt on top of the cooked fries, adding savoury flavour to each bite.
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The American version is vegan and has no chicken
Chicken salt is a seasoning that originated in Australia in the 1970s. It was invented by Peter Brinkworth as a flavouring for the roast chickens he sold in his chicken shop in Gawler, South Australia. Brinkworth's original recipe included onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, chicken bouillon, and monosodium glutamate. The Mitani family bought Brinkworth's business in 1979 and began selling chicken salt commercially to the takeaway food industry, and it soon became popular as a seasoning for hot chips (French fries).
While some versions of chicken salt do contain actual chicken, most brands' versions are vegan and suitable for many dietary requirements. The Australian chicken salt sold on Amazon in the US, for example, is vegan and contains no chicken. Instead, it claims to have a "unique chicken flavour" and is made with sea salt, rice flour, spices, vegetable powders (onion, garlic, natural flavour, yeast extract), and an anticaking agent.
Chicken salt is also available in the US from some Korean grocers, and it can be purchased online from Australian retailers. While it may not be as well-known outside of Australia, chicken salt has gained a following among those looking to add a savoury, umami flavour to their dishes.
In summary, while chicken salt originated in Australia and is most commonly found there, an American version does exist, and it is vegan and contains no chicken.
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It is available in the US via Amazon and in some stores
Chicken salt is a uniquely Australian product, with American KFCs using plain salt instead. However, chicken salt is now available in the US via Amazon and in some stores. Amazon sells a couple of versions, including one made in Australia, and another called Jada, which carries the slogan "An Australian tradition" on its packaging. The Jada version is vegan, gluten-free, and contains no MSG, soy, additives, or genetically modified ingredients.
Chicken salt is a seasoning blend used to season roast chicken and fries. It was invented by Peter Brinkworth in the early 1970s for his chicken shop in South Australia. Brinkworth's original blend included onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, chicken bouillon, and monosodium glutamate. Brinkworth sold his business and the recipe to the Mitani family in 1979, and they began selling the product commercially to the takeaway food industry.
The Mitani version of chicken salt lists its ingredients as sea salt (82%), rice flour, spices, vegetable powders (onion, garlic, natural flavor, yeast extract), and an anticaking agent (551). The company now sells 70 tons of chicken salt every year and began selling a retail version of its product in 1991 due to demand. Mitani also exports a small amount to the UK.
In addition to Amazon, some stores in the US sell chicken salt. For example, the Australian restaurant Dudley's in New York City makes and sells its own chicken salt by the jar at its deli counter.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken salt is a seasoning made from salt, garlic, spices, celery seeds, and sometimes chicken or chicken bouillon. It is commonly used in Australia to season roast chicken and fries.
Yes, there are a couple of versions of chicken salt available in America. Amazon sells one made in Australia and another called Jada, which is vegan and carries the words "An Australian tradition" on its packaging.
Chicken salt can be used as a seasoning for chicken or fries, as a rim for a cocktail glass, or as a sprinkle on popcorn or roasted vegetables.
