Lots of recipes call for Dijon mustard, but sometimes we just don't have any in the pantry. Depending on what is being made, there are lots of easy ways to substitute Dijon mustard and still have a similar final dish. You might also be cooking for someone with a mustard allergy, in which case you will have to be careful about what you are using as a substitute.
Another possible reason for substituting Dijon mustard in a recipe is a dislike of the flavor. In this case, other types of mustard may be preferable, but if you don't like those either then it's possible to use other ingredients and still have the same effect.
Pass The Mustard
Yellow mustard can easily be used in place of Dijon, and is particularly useful if find Dijon too sharp and spicy. Simply use the same amount, in the same way, and you should find your dish turns out very similar. In fact, depending on the flavor you want to achieve, any type of mustard can be substituted for Dijon.
There are so many different types of mustard out there, it can be nice to experiment with different flavors. There's yellow mustard, honey mustard, spicy brown mustard, wholegrain mustard and hot mustard (English mustard is also an option, and is a variation of hot mustard).
Dry mustard is also a great substitute if fresh isn't available. It can easily be prepared by mixing a teaspoon each of dry mustard, water and vinegar. It should be left for around 15 minutes for the flavors to develop, then can be used in place of one tablespoon of mustard in a recipe.
If you don't have yellow or dry mustard, mustard seeds can be ground up to make a dry mustard powder then used as above. There are different colors of seeds available, so the one you should use depends on the heat you want the dish to have.
Yellow or white seeds are ideal to replace yellow mustard, but brown seeds are perfect for creating the flavor of Dijon. There are also black mustard seeds which can be used if you prefer a really hot mustard.
Keep It Simple – All For Mustard And Mustard For All
If you are cooking for children, or anyone who doesn't like food too hot and spicy, honey mustard is a great replacement. Of course, it is sweeter than yellow or Dijon mustard, and is ideal for using with meats such as pork or chicken.
On the other hand, if you wish to keep the spice and flavor of mustard, but allergies are a concern, spices such as turmeric are a great substitute. You can also mix turmeric with chili, garlic and salt to create a substitute for the spicy flavor of mustard, if you have these ingredients available.
Simply grind them together and mix well, and use as required. For recipes where it's essential to keep the heat of the mustard, ideal substitutes are ingredients such as wasabi or horseradish. Both of these are hotter than Dijon mustard, so use less than the amount of mustard asked for in the recipe.
You can also combine horseradish root with sour cream and honey, if the mustard substitute is being used alone rather than cooked into a recipe. Each of the ingredients brings a different flavor element, which when used together quite closely replicate the spicy yet sweet flavor of Dijon mustard.
If using wasabi in a recipe for someone with a mustard allergy, carefully check the ingredients as some cheap imitation wasabi products are made using mustard to give it the heat. Choose an authentic wasabi and use it very sparingly.
In recipes where the mustard is used as a thickener, mayonnaise can be used instead, although it won't give the same flavor. However, it is ideal when cooking for someone with a mustard allergy. Dijon mustard is often used in salad dressings, to help the oil and vinegar emulsify.
To achieve the same effect without the use of mustard, an egg yolk separated from the white can be used. However, take care when using raw eggs when making dishes for young children, elderly people or pregnant women.
When mustard is being used as a marinade, Worcestershire sauce is a surprisingly good replacement. It is salty and sugary and also contains vinegar, making it perfect for recreating the effect of marinating meat or vegetables in mustard.
If you are looking for a replacement for Dijon mustard because you don't like the flavor, you can actually easily make your own mustard and customize it to be exactly the way you like it! Choose your favorite type of mustard seeds to grind up or use whole, and add your preferred type of vinegar or oil.
Honey can also be added for a sweeter and milder flavor. If you have time, you can prepare homemade mustard using yellow and brown mustard seeds, white wine vinegar and dry white wine. The seeds need to be marinated for 2 days in the liquid, then everything should be blended together using a mortar and pestle.
This gives an authentic flavor, but is time-consuming. It would probably be quicker and easier in most cases to go to the store and buy Dijon mustard! In many recipes, the Dijon mustard can simply be omitted without too much impact on the flavor of the final dish.
If you have already used a lot of herbs or spices to give the food plenty of flavor, you probably won't notice if the mustard is skipped. Sometimes this is the quickest and easiest option if not suitable substitutes are available.
Conclusions
Hopefully this guide has helped you find an ideal way to substitute Dijon mustard in just about any type of recipe you might be making. There are so many different types of mustard and possible substitutes out there, it can be great fun to experiment in the kitchen.
You might even discover a new favorite type of mustard, or a new way to make your favorite dressings using alternative ingredients. Sometimes when an ingredient, such as Dijon mustard, isn't available, it can actually lead to us becoming more creative and trying new skills.
About the Author
Emily Dick has recently graduated with an Honors Degree from the Open University in the field of social science. She currently creates content for www.buzzparent.com, where she enjoys writing about a range of topics such as parenting tips and advice, and reviewing the latest toys and games for children.
Emily is currently raising her two-year-old daughter, and two pet cats. She is working on plans to open a children's soft play and activity center in her local town, as well as coming up with ideas for children's picture books with her daughter.
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