Mustard is a condiment made from the small seeds of the mustard plant.
There are 3 types of mustard seeds, with black, brown, and white or yellow color. You can use them as ground, whole, bruised, or cracked for making different types of mustards.
Mustard seeds are mixed with vinegar, water, lemon juice, salt, and various spices and flavorings into a paste with yellow or brown color which is used as a condiment.
Mustard is one of the most used condiments that pairs best with meats, cheeses, hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches. However, you can also add it to different sauces, marinades, dressings, vinaigrettes, soups, glazes, mayonnaise, etc.
Depending on the type of the mustard seeds, the type of liquid, ingredients, and preparation method there are various types of mustards with different, colors, flavors, and textures.
You can find mustard as a powder, seeds, oil, and prepared mustard.
Mustards made with brown and black mustard seeds have a hotter flavor than the mustards prepared with yellow mustard seeds.
All types of mustard have a spicy flavor. However, some are mildly spicy while others have a very spicy flavor. Mustards flavor also depends on the liquids used for its preparation.
If the mustard is prepared with vinegar, it has a long-lasting spiciness, while the one made with water will have a very spicy flavor when freshly prepared but it will lose its potency if left longer.
Great substitutes for English mustard include Dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard, Creole mustard, Chinese mustard, Wagarashi, or some of the following types of mustard.
Let’s learn more about each substitute below!
What’s English Style Mustard?
English style mustard is made with ground yellow and brown mustard seeds, turmeric, and wheat flour. And it is available as a ready-made powder.
English mustard has a sharp, earthy, slightly bitter, and vinegary flavor (because vinegar is one of the ingredients used for its preparation) and bright-yellow color.
The ready-made English mustard in powder form is mixed with cold water before use in sauces, vinaigrettes, casseroles, and rubs for beef, pork, chicken meats, and fish.
The ready-prepared form of the English mustard is used in dressings, sauces, marinades, and as a cooking ingredient.
What Mustard Is Closest To English Mustard?
Closest to English mustard is Dijon mustard. Dijon mustard has a pale-yellow color and it is not very spicy. It is made with ground brown or black mustard seeds, salt, water, juice from unripe grapes, or white wine and spices.
Dijon mustard is used to give a tangy, slightly spicy flavor to marinades, salad dressings, sauces, vinaigrettes, sandwiches, and burgers
Best English Mustard Substitutes
If your recipe calls for English mustard but you have run out of it, here is a list of substitutes you can use.
1. Dijon mustard
Dijon mustard is not as hot and sharp as the English mustard. However, you can still use it as a substitute for English mustard. Use it as a condiment or a cooking ingredient in recipes that call for English mustard in a 1:1 ratio.
2. Spicy brown mustard
Spicy brown mustard, also known as deli mustard, is made with brown mustard seeds and has a coarser texture and less spicy flavor than the English mustard.
It also contains other spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger which offers more spiciness and a slightly earthy flavor. This mustard works well with sausages, sandwiches, pastrami, roast beef, and other stronger flavors.
Use spicy brown mustard in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for English mustard.
3. Creole mustard
Creole mustard is made with whole brown mustard seeds marinated in vinegar, horseradish, turmeric, and other spices.
It has a grainy texture, sweet-spicy flavor and is usually used in dressings, sauces, sandwiches, dips, marinades, glazes, and many other recipes.
You can use creole mustard in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for English mustard.
4. Chinese mustard
Chinese mustard consists of ground brown mustard seeds mixed with water. Therefore, it has a strong, spicy, flavor.
You can also find other recipes made with rice vinegar, sesame oil, or vegetable oil. You can use this mustard as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, egg rolls, and wontons. It also pairs well in salad dressings, marinades, and dry rubs.
Use Chinese mustard in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for English mustard.
5. Wagarashi
This is Japanese mustard made with ground brown mustard seeds. It has a similar appearance and flavor to Chinese mustard.
Wagarashi is made with water for maximum heat. It has a sharp and spicy flavor. You can find it in powder form and ready, and use it in dressings, as a seasoning or dipping sauce.
It is spicier than the English mustard, so substitute 2 teaspoons of English mustard with 1 teaspoon of Wagarashi.
6. Horseradish sauce
Horseradish sauce is made with the grated root of the horseradish plant, salt, and vinegar, and mixed with sour cream, heavy cream, or mayonnaise. It has white color, strong, spicy flavor, and creamy texture.
It is usually served with pork or beef tenderloins, prime rib, steak sandwiches, potato salad, and deviled eggs. Horseradish sauce is spicier than English mustard, so use it in smaller amounts.
For 2 teaspoons of English mustard use 1 teaspoon horseradish sauce instead.
7. Stoneground mustard
Stoneground mustard consists of brown mustard seeds grounded with a millstone. So, this type of mustard has a coarser texture and is milder than English mustard.
Stoneground mustard works well in various dressings, barbecue sauces, vinaigrettes, meat rubs, and sandwiches. However, you can also serve it with cheeses, sausages, and roast beef.
Use stone-ground mustard in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for English mustard.
8. Whole grain mustard
Whole grain mustard consists of whole and slightly ground yellow and brown mustard seeds. It has a coarse texture, yellow-brown color, and mild flavor.
You can use whole grain mustard in sandwiches, sauces, vinaigrettes, dips, and dressings. It is a great substitute for English mustard if you don’t mind its coarse texture and milder flavor.
Replace 1 teaspoon of English mustard with 2 teaspoons of whole grain mustard, and add more if needed.
9. German mustard
German mustard is one of the most used condiments with the famous German sausages.
You can find different types of German mustards with different heat levels, textures, colors, and ingredients. And one of the spiciest German mustards is the Dusseldorf mustard. It works well in sandwiches, sausages, hot -dogs, pork meat, and hamburgers.
Use it in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for English mustard.
10. Homemade English mustard
The best substitute for store-bought English mustard is homemade English mustard. You can make it according to your taste, and use it in your favorite recipes. Just follow the next recipe!
How To Make English Mustard?
To make English mustard you will need just a few ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 a cup of mustard powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoon of cold water
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
Put the mustard powder, salt, and sugar in a small bowl and mix them. Then, add the apple cider vinegar and the water and mix well. Let it sit in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 1-2 days and your mustard is ready to use.
Is Dijon Mustard The Same As English Mustard?
Dijon mustard is not the same as English mustard.
English mustard has a bright yellow color and spicy, sharp, slightly bitter flavor. Dijon mustard, on the other hand, has a pale yellow color and milder flavor than the English mustard.
English Mustard vs Yellow Mustard: What’s The Difference?
Yellow mustard also known as American mustard or regular mustard is made with yellow mustard seeds, turmeric, water, vinegar, and spices.
It has a bright yellow color and milder flavor than the English mustard. Yellow mustard is the key ingredient in different marinades, barbecue sauces, hotdogs, hamburgers, and dressings.
English mustard is made with brown and yellow mustard seeds, turmeric, wheat flour, and water or vinegar. It has a bright yellow color and a sharp spicy flavor.
English mustard works well in different sauces, dressings, marinades, rubs, and vinaigrettes.
Summary
English mustard is one of the best mustards.
However, if you can’t find it in the stores you can use some of the substitutes mentioned above. Some of them are not as spicy as the English mustard but they will still provide a mustard flavor to your recipe.
Try them and let us know which one is your favorite in the comment section down below!
2 comments
Hi Saurabh,
Thanks for some helpful info on different mustards.
Im a chef from UK living & working in Indonesia.
Certain ingredients are not always on the shelf, English mustard being one of them so alternative mustards come in to play.
Thanks. Chef Allan.
Hi Chef Allan, I am glad this was helpful.