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Salt and pepper are the common names for edible salt and ground black pepper, which are ubiquitously paired on Western dining tables as to allow for the additional seasoning of food after its preparation. During food preparation or cooking, they may also be added in combination.

Salt and pepper are typically maintained in separate shakers on the table, but they may be mixed in the kitchen. They are typically found in a set (pair), often a matched set, of salt and pepper shakers. They may be considered condiments or seasonings; salt is a mineral and black pepper is a spice.

History

Salt is one of the oldest and most ubiquitous food seasonings, and is known to uniformly improve the taste perception of food, including otherwise unpalatable food. Its pairing with pepper as table accessories dates to seventeenth-century French cuisine, which considered black pepper (distinct from herbs such as fines herbes) the only spice that did not overpower the true taste of food. Some food writers like Sara Dickerman have argued that, in modern cookery, a new spice could be used in place of the historic ground black pepper.

Other cultures

In Hungary, paprika may replace pepper on the dinner table, while in Basque cuisine, Espelette pepper frequently replaces black pepper.

References

1. Jacewicz, Natalie (2 February 2018). "How Did Salt And Pepper Become The Soulmates Of Western Cuisine?". NPR. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
2. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake (2010). "3 — Taste and Flavor Roles of Sodium in Foods: A Unique Challenge to Reducing Sodium Intake". In Jane E. Henney; Christine L. Taylor; Caitlin S. Boon (eds.). Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in the United States. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-14806-1. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
3. Shrem, Max (August 19, 2008). "When did salt and pepper become a pair?". slashfood.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008.
4. Dickerman, Sara (4 January 2012). "Against Pepper". slate.com. Slate. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
5. Wilson, Bee (3 October 2019). "Salt and Pepper Are No Longer Enough". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

v t e Condiments
List of condiments List of common dips List of syrups
Sauces	Agre dulce Agrodolce Aioli Barbecue sauce Bigarade sauce Brown sauce Buffalo sauce Cheese sauce Alfredo sauce Caruso sauce Cheddar sauce Cheez Whiz Fondue Mornay sauce Nacho cheese Chili sauce Chimichurri Cocktail sauce Colo-colo Crema Caruru Dabu-dabu Fish sauce Fritessaus Fry sauce Garum Gastrique Gravy Hot sauce Latik Kaymak Khrenovina Lechon sauce Marie Rose sauce Mayonnaise Kewpie Kielecki Miracle Whip Mignonette sauce Mild sauce Monkey gland sauce Mumbo sauce Oyster sauce Peanut sauce Pearà Pesto Pistou Remoulade Salsa golf Salsa verde Satsivi Steak sauce Tartar sauce Tatbila Teriyaki sauce Tiparos Tkemali Tomato sauce Vincotto XO sauce Zingara sauce
Dips	Ajika Baba ghanoush Chile con queso Duck sauce Duqqa Garlic chive flower sauce Guacamole Hogao Honey dill Hummus Muhammara Nam chim Nam phrik Nước chấm Skyronnes Sweet chili sauce Toum Tzatziki Zhug
Pickles and preserves	Amba Atchara Cheong Chutney Green mango chutney Curtido Encurtido Fruit preserves Gari Horseradish Ljutenica Pepper jelly Piccalilli Pickled cucumber Pickled fruit Relish Chicago-style relish Sauerkraut Kimchi Sumbala Taba ng talangka Tomato jam Watermelon rind preserves
Spreads and pastes	Ajvar Anchovy paste Bagoong Biber salçası Beurre Maître d'Hôtel Chili paste Chrain Coconut jam Fish paste Gochujang Liver spread Kyopolou Maafe Malidzano Meat extract Bovril Murri Nut butter Palapa Pindjur Roe Caviar Sahawiq Tapai Wasabi Yeast extract Marmite Vegemite Zacuscă
Oils and liquids	Chili oil Halford Leicestershire Table Sauce Mustard oil Olive oil Patis Perilla oil Ponzu Salmoriglio Sesame oil Soy sauce Soup soy sauce Sweet soy sauce Toyomansi Syrup Worcestershire sauce Tonkatsu sauce
Spices and powders	Asín tibuok Chipotle Crushed red pepper Gomashio MSG Nutritional yeast Paprika Popcorn seasoning Salt and pepper Tekka Za'atar
Salads	Carolina style Coleslaw Kachumbari Kachumber Salsa Pico de gallo Salsa criolla
Dressings	Blue cheese dressing French dressing Ginger dressing Green goddess dressing Italian dressing Louis dressing Mayfair salad dressing Ranch dressing Russian dressing Salad cream Tahini Thousand Island Vinaigrette Wafu dressing
Ketchups	Banana ketchup Curry ketchup Fruit ketchup Mushroom ketchup
Mustards	Dijon mustard Honey mustard Karashi Kasundi Mostarda Spicy brown mustard Creole mustard Sweet mustard Tecuci mustard Tewkesbury mustard Turun sinappi Yellow mustard
Vinegars	Apple cider vinegar Balsamic vinegar Balsamic vinegar of Modena Black vinegar Kaong palm vinegar Malt vinegar Nipa palm vinegar
List articles	Accompaniments to french fries Brand name condiments Chutneys Fish pastes Fish sauces Indian condiments Indonesian condiments Japanese condiments Mayonnaises Mustard brands Hot sauces Pakistani condiments Philippine condiments Pickled foods
Accoutrements	Cruet-stand Sachet Salt and pepper shakers Squeeze bottle

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