What you need to know about chicken salt

According to American food site Epicruious, it seems that the beloved condiment has somehow found its way to US shores, and has taken Americans by storm.

Since it’s pretty much an Australian delicacy, taste.com.au has researched all things about chicken salt: the facts, the dos and don’ts … and its true origins.

Here’s everything you need to know about chicken salt.

It first launched in Australia in the ‘70s

You can thank Adelaide local Peter Brinkworth for inventing the one and only chicken salt back in the early 1970s.

Created to season the roast chickens sold in his chicken shop, the Gawler man was approached by the Mitani family who bought the chicken shop in the late 70s, which meant that they were not only in possession of the store, but also what would soon become the chicken salt recipe.

In 1979, the Mitani family began selling chicken salt to fellow takeaway joints, and it soon rose to fame.

Is chicken salt vegan?

How can something ‘chicken’ flavoured contain no chicken?

Mitani Chicken Salt is made with salt, rice flour, onion, garlic, paprika and a few secret spices, making it entirely chicken-free! However, this wasn’t always the case.

Inventor Peter Brinkworth revealed the O.G chicken salt consisted of onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, chicken bouillon and monosodium glutamate, which made it not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Australians love it on hot chips

For us Aussies, chicken salt paired with hot chips is a no-brainer. But what there isn’t enough discussion on are the nitty gritty specifics that we call … chicken salt etiquette.

The golden trio of chicken salted chip perfection is: medium cut chips, well cooked (and we mean piping hot with crispy, golden edges), and EXTRA chicken salt, to the point where the chips are smothered.

But chips aren’t the only partner-in-crime for the iconic condiment. We love using it as a seasoning for popcorn, chicken (duh), and even when cooking rice for an extra boost of flavour.

It’s one of those ingredients that will just take anything to the next level.

The BEST chicken salt recipe

We decided to recreate our own version of the famous ‘chicken salt on chips’ combo, and ended up with chicken salt potato balls.

Cheesy mashed potatoes coated in a cornflake crumb with a generous coating of chicken salt … cooked in an air fryer.

They’re crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and they truly hero the star of the show … chicken salt.

Originally published as Everything you need to know about chicken salt

Originally published as Chicken salt: What you need to know about Australia’s favourite seasoning