How to Make and Use Mustard for Standout Dishes

14 Feb  How to Make and Use Mustard for Standout Dishes

If you have ever used the Original English mustard powder from Colman’s you will know how simple it is to make mustard – this versatile condiment with a kick is made from mustard seeds (ground) mixed with liquid. Yet this easy recipe skips over the endless variety you can find from gourmet mustards and artisanal mustards – mustard can also include anything from honey to herbs, spices to salt. The liquid you use to create the mustard doesn’t need to be water. You can use vinegar, verjus, lemon juice, or wine. The ingredients you choose for your mustard and the binding liquid govern how sharp your mustard will be and how pungent the flavors. Experiment with the basic recipe to create mustards to remember – and find out how to serve mustard to create memorable dishes.

How to Make Mustard 

A couple of days before you want to have your mustard ready, take 100g of mustard seeds – yellow mustard seeds have a milder flavor than dark mustard seeds – and soak the seeds for up to 48 hours in 100ml of cold water and 150ml of cider vinegar. The mustard seeds will swell in size so make sure you use a big enough container.

Once the liquid has been absorbed, pour the mixture into a food processor and mix the seeds so they are broken up. You are aiming for a fine paste – if it is not fine enough you can push the mixture through a metal sieve with small holes. If the end result is a little too liquidy, stir in some flour. A basic mustard recipe then calls for a little sea salt and maybe some honey if you want the mustard to have a sweet taste. After this, you can experiment if you wish with herbs and spices. Store the mustard in the fridge in an airtight container.

Flavoured Gourmet Mustards 

Mustard comes in a huge range of flavors – for example, specialist mustard Maille Food Gifts include mustards with white wine, basil and fennel, mustard with chanterelles and sorrel, white wine, and blue cheese, honey and balsamic vinegar, even cocoa and raspberry.

You can make your own flavored mustard when you want to create a standout condiment to serve with sandwiches or a buffet lunch. Once you have softened the seeds and mixed them in a food processor a little, then you add the spices or herbs. Try horseradish, apple and mint mustard, tomato mustard, tarragon, or basil. Of course, you can buy these mustards ready-made and they make an ideal gift for the food lover in your life.

How to Serve Mustard 

Mustard is the perfect accompaniment to a range of foods from the classic sandwich of roast beef, ham, or cheddar cheese, to salad dressings, mayonnaise, and cream sauces. Flavor dishes like Welsh rarebit, baked ham, herrings, and vegetables like cabbage and leeks with mustard to bring out a new depth in the food.