Salted Dark Chocolate

The best things in cooking are often about contrast. Heat and cold. Fat and acid. And here: the deep, slightly bitter weight of dark chocolate against the clean bright burst of sea salt. This is barely a recipe. It's more of a reminder.

Ingredients

  • 200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa or above)
  • ½ tsp Artisanal Sea Salt, plus a pinch to finish

Method

  1. Break the chocolate into pieces and melt slowly over a bain-marie, stirring until glossy. Don't rush this — chocolate scorched in a microwave loses something.
  2. Stir in half the salt and pour onto a parchment-lined tray to about 5mm depth, or spoon into moulds if making cups.
  3. Before it sets, scatter the remaining Artisanal Sea Salt across the surface. A light hand is enough.
  4. Leave to cool at room temperature, or refrigerate for 20 minutes until firm.
  5. Snap into rough pieces and serve.

The salt does two things here: it amplifies the chocolate's flavour and cuts through the sweetness. Use good chocolate — the salt will make it better, but it can't fix bad cocoa.