In this article, we’re discussing mustard seed. We’ll tell you everything you want to know about the taste and texture, how to eat them and what types of recipes they’ll make delicious.
Let’s take a look…
What Does Mustard Seed Taste Like?
Mustard seeds are the seeds of mustard plants. They come in different colors, including yellow, black and brown, and each color has a slightly different flavor.
Yellow mustard seeds are pretty mellow-tasting, a little spicy and slightly sweet. The brown and black seeds are significantly hotter with a bitter flavor, though the black seeds trade some of their bitterness for a particularly sharp, spicy bite.
Mustard Seed Texture
These seeds are little, round and crunchy. When you bite down on one, you’ll feel it pop between your teeth—it’s actually pretty fun.
The texture is sometimes lost when added to recipes. When they soak up liquid, they’ll turn soft and perhaps even jelly-like. But they may retain some of their zesty pop.
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Do Mustard Seeds Taste like Mustard?
There are so many different kinds of mustard with different flavors out there, but in general, you can rely on mustard seeds to taste like the condiments.
Yellow mustard seeds are closer in flavor to mild yellow mustards, but without any tang. It’s the brown seeds that have the flavor closer to Dijon mustards, and indeed, they’re often added to them.
The hotter mustards might lean toward the black seeds or a blend of brown and black. You can usually see them in grainy mustards, and it’s one way to know how spicy they’ll be.
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Can You Eat Mustard Seeds Raw?
You can absolutely eat mustard seeds raw. One of the best ways to do this is in a salad dressing. Yellow seeds will give your dressing a little more of a floral flavor than if you were to use a dollop of tangy mustard.
Mustard seeds are probably more commonly roasted and toasted. Cooking them will help to develop the pleasant flavors and reduce bitterness if you’re getting a hefty dose from the raw seeds.
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What Can Be Used Instead of Mustard Seeds?
The best substitutes for mustards seeds are mustard powder and the condiment itself. The powder is best as it won’t add any additional ingredients found in mustard, but the sauce is not a bad bet.
If you don’t have any of these ingredients, it’s possible that cumin seeds could fill in, but you’ll get something of a flavor variation in the end result.
How to Eat Mustard Seeds
Cooking with mustard seeds is easy once you get an idea of what flavors they mesh with. Let’s start with the basics—homemade mustard.
This video will show you how to make your own whole grain mustard. It calls for a product called Bee Free Honee (made from apples), but you can use agave or the liquid sweetener of your choice.
Here’s what’s in it:
- Yellow, light brown and dark brown mustard seeds
- Water
- Bee Free Honee or agave
- Salt
- Vinegar
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Next up is a delicious, creamy vegan mustard sauce drizzled over Brussels sprouts. This recipe calls for Dijon mustard, but if you’ve made your own from the above recipe, you can sub it for the Dijon.
Grab these ingredients from the supermarket:
- Brussels sprouts
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Shallots
- Arrowroot starch
- Vegetable stock
- Coconut cream
- Prepared spicy mustard
- Maple syrup
- Apple cider vinegar
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Wrap Up
Mustard seeds commonly come in yellow, brown and black varieties, which range from mildly spicy and sweet to super spicy, earthy and bitter. The best way to enjoy them is in salad dressing, homemade mustard and creamy vegan sauces you can smother roasted vegetables in.
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
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