What’s great about dry mustard is that it has so many uses in cooking. You can use this spice in marinating meat or vegetables or add them to sauces. If you run out of dry mustard, though, or can’t use it for some reason, here are its most common substitutes.
- Mustard Seeds
- Dijon Mustard
- Turmeric
- Horseradish
- Wasabi Powder
- Stone-ground or Yellow Mustard
- Arugula
- Mayonnaise
Let’s get to know more about the dry mustard substitutes that you can use in cooking through this article.
Top 9 Best Dry Mustard Substitutes
Here are your top choices when searching for the best dry mustard substitutes that you can use in cooking. Note that your choice should depend on the specific dish you are cooking as some of them are more suitable compared to the others.
Mustard Seeds
Dry mustard is derived from mustard seeds, which means that you can also use the latter as substitutes for it. Mustard seeds work as great alternatives to dry mustard, especially when preparing dry rubs.
The only thing that you have to do is to grind the seeds with the help of a coffee or spice grinder.
Make sure to use the yellow mustard seeds that exhibit the same mild flavor as dry mustard.
However, if you only have black or brown mustard seeds, you can still use them but the quantity should be less than the required amount in the recipe. The reason is that this black or brown variety is spicier than the yellow mustard seed.
Dijon Mustard
Another substitute for dry mustard that you can use in cooking is Dijon mustard. What’s good about this substitute is that you can easily find it in grocery stores.
This is a great choice if you want your recipe to have a creamier and spicier flavor. Most of those who cook regularly love Dijon mustard because it has the right amount of acidity and pungency.
The spicy and sharp flavor of Dijon mustard is also one reason why it blends well in recipes requiring brown or yellow mustard. Dijon is ideal for creamy dishes, such as sauces and salad dressings.
The spicy brown mustard, on the other hand, can add zing to glazes and meat marinades.
You will also love this substitute for dry mustard if you are not too concerned about the texture of your recipes. It can add a similar taste to your cheesy casserole recipes and sauces.
If you decide to use Dijon mustard, note that one tablespoon of it would be enough to replace a teaspoon of dry mustard.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another good substitute for dry mustard that you can use in your recipes. It has a strong and a bit bitter and spicy-peppery taste, making it resemble the taste of ground mustard.
One advantage of turmeric is that you can choose to buy it in powder form already. This promotes ease in adding turmeric into your soups and sauces. You can even easily add it to your minced meat recipes.
Another reason to use turmeric powder as a dry mustard substitute is that it carries plenty of health benefits. To replace dry mustard with turmeric, use equal amounts as a replacement.
You have to pay close attention to the bitterness of turmeric, though.
If your recipe also calls for the use of other ingredients that can also make the end result bitter, then make sure that you lessen the amount of turmeric.
You also have to taste your recipe as you cook so you will know if the amount you added is just right.
Horseradish
You also have to consider using horseradish if you are looking for a good ingredient to replace prepared or dry mustard. It has the same flavor profile as dry mustard, which is why you can also use the two interchangeably.
The reason behind their similar flavors is that horseradish also belongs to the plant family of mustard.
One thing that horseradish can do when used in place of dry mustard is that it can add some nice acidity and heat to your dishes. You will find this substitute useful when cooking soups and marinades and preparing dressings, dips, and sauces.
One reminder about horseradish, though, is that it is stronger than dry mustard in terms of adding spice to your recipes.
This means that you should use less horseradish than the required amount of dry mustard in your recipe. Also, taste your recipe while in the process of cooking it, so you can make the necessary adjustments.
Wasabi Powder
Wasabi powder can also be used as a good replacement in case you don’t have dry mustard. It is similar to horseradish in the sense that its flavor profile is also the same as dry mustard.
As a matter of fact, the wasabi powder boasts of the same flavor and texture as powdered mustard. It can even cause a similar nasal reaction when you put excessive amounts of mustard in your mouth.
Note, though, that when it comes to spiciness, wasabi powder is stronger than dry mustard. This is why it is highly recommended to use this substitute in moderation. If you want, you can lessen the amount you add to your recipe. Add just the right amount of wasabi based on how much heat you can tolerate.
Stone-Ground or Yellow Mustard
Both stone-ground and yellow mustard also work as great replacements or substitutes for dry mustard. Stone-ground mustard has similar spices as the ones used in prepared yellow mustards. The only difference is that it does not come with any vinegar or liquid.
In case the dry mustard substitute you are looking for is one that has a bit different taste from the usual variety, then you can go for yellow mustard. It carries the same spices that you can find in dry mustard, but it also has some sweetness in it, instead of a sharp heat.
One crucial fact about yellow mustard is that its taste is not as strong compared to the prepared mustard. However, it is still capable of making your dish more flavorful. It works well as a fantastic ingredient for marinades and dressings, especially if you prefer the end result to be not so spicy.
Arugula
You may find this substitute surprising, but yes, you can use an arugula as a replacement for dry mustard.
This leafy vegetable is suitable for use on some dishes that call for dry mustard since it can also add some spiciness to them. Arugula works particularly well in salads.
What you should do is chop the arugula leaves until you form a paste out of them. After that, add this to your salad recipes or dish. Note, though, that this substitute is not ideal for use in soups and marinades.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise may not be the most highly recommended substitute for dry mustard in cooking, but there are recipes that still allow you to use it. It could be a great substitute for dry or ground mustard in case you need to prepare an egg salad, dressing, cream sauce, or marinade.
A reminder, though – mayonnaise is not pungent nor hot. This makes it necessary to incorporate some spices into it so its taste will be close to dry mustard. Among the spices you can use, in this case, are curry, pepper, turmeric, and cumin.
Mayonnaise is also quite thick, so when using it as a substitute for dry mustard, use only one-half of the required amount. If you don’t do that, there is a high chance for the remaining flavors to become less noticeable.
Substitute for Dry Mustard Related FAQs
What are the uses of dry mustard in cooking?
One major use of dry mustard is to improve the flavor of your recipes. It is easy to distinguish dry mustard compared to other mustard varieties because of the extra-strong flavor it exhibits.
Note that there are also wet mustard varieties that have other ingredients aside from the ground mustard seeds. However, nothing compares to the quality of dry mustard as it is made of 100% mustard, which makes its flavor more intense than the rest.
You will also find dry mustard useful in those recipes with flavors that have the tendency to become watered down as you are cooking them. For instance, recipes that are heavy in dairy, like sauces based on cheese or cream, can benefit from the strong kick of flavor from dry mustard as it is capable of cutting through the creaminess.
Using dry mustard is also a great decision if you want the taste of mustard to stand out no matter how powerful and intense the flavors of the other ingredients in your recipe are.
Can I make my own dry mustard?
Yes, you can. The whole process is even easy. The only things you will need for this would be a grinding utensil and whole mustard seeds. You can use the traditional pestle-and-mortar if you prefer grinding the seeds by hand, or a specialized coffee or spice grinder.
Grind the seeds by machine or hand. Continue doing it until you have finely ground the seeds, turning them into powder form. Make sure to lessen the chunks or lumps in the powder so you can easily blend it into the recipes or dishes you intend to prepare.
Once done, you can choose to use this homemade dry mustard as part of your recipe or a base for the mustard recipe you wish to prepare.
Why do you need to replace dry mustard?
There are a few reasons why you may need to replace dry mustard and look for its substitutes. For one, you may be in a place where you hardly find dry or ground mustard. This means that inaccessibility could be the reason for your need for dry mustard substitutes.
It could also be that you are not fond of the pungency or spiciness of the dry mustard. You may find it too strong for you, so you are looking for a substitute that is milder than it. You also have to find the best substitutes for dry mustard if you are allergic to it.
What makes dry mustard different from regular mustard?
Regular and dry mustard are similar in the sense that they are made using the same spices, including yellow and/or brown mustard seeds, black or white pepper, and turmeric.
However, dry mustard is also distinguishable because it does not use any liquid, such as vinegar or water. Dry mustard is prepared without adding any liquid, unlike the prepared wet mustard that uses vinegar as part of their main ingredients.