Predator cooked, salty little thing (8)
I believe the answer is:
teardrop
'salty little thing' is the definition.
'predator cooked' is the wordplay.
'cooked' indicates an anagram.
'predator' is an anagram of 'TEARDROP'.
(Other definitions for teardrop that I've seen before include "Globule of moisture indicating distress" , "Little sign of regret" , "One shed from eye" , "spot of grief" , "Bit of salty moisture" .)