Salt roasting

Salt roasting: baking something like seafood, pork, poultry or potatoes in a mound of salt. People rave about it, but I've never done it. How about you? And what did you think?

"Beggar's Chicken" is a Chinese dish where a whole chicken is baked in salt.

The methodology exists in many cuisines. But, as the Chinese name indicates, it seems to be a cooking method of last resort for peasants who can't afford any better method of cooking.

I'm not salt-paranoid, but I certainly don't need in my dietary regimen culinary methods that are extremely high-sodium, such as salt-baking. Or French confit.

-Paul W.

Larry...I have never done it, but I have had a whole snapper cooked in a salt mound when I ate at one of Mario Batali's restaurants, and it was one of the most delicious snappers I have ever eaten.

"Beggar's Chicken" is a Chinese dish where a whole chicken is baked in salt.

The methodology exists in many cuisines. But, as the Chinese name indicates, it seems to be a cooking method of last resort for peasants who can't afford any better method of cooking.

I'm not salt-paranoid, but I certainly don't need in my dietary regimen culinary methods that are extremely high-sodium, such as salt-baking. Or French confit.

-Paul W.

The way I understand it is that the salt doesn't really permeate the food, but forms a crust that seals in the juices.

Larry...I have never done it, but I have had a whole snapper cooked in a salt mound when I ate at one of Mario Batali's restaurants, and it was one of the most delicious snappers I have ever eaten.

Maria, my favorite Spanish Restaurant in Florida has the same dish. It's unbelievably good. They fillet it at the table and drizzle with olive oil infused with garlic and hot red peppers. Mmmm, I miss it.

Larry, I believe some restaurants use this method for cooking Prime Rib. I'm not sure I've ever had it that way though. I'd be interested to try making it that way, but I would hate to ruin a whole prime rib roast if it didn't work out.