7 Healthier Substitutes For Dijon Mustard
- Dijon mustard is a traditional French mustard that originated and gets its name from the town of Dijon in Burgundy, France. This delicious mustard is made from brown mustard seeds, salt, and white wine or vinegar. Its tangy, spicy taste makes this mustard a must-have in every pantry.
- Dijon mustard is commercially produced by a lot of companies and you are able to get a wide variety of flavors. It is available in both powder and paste form, but the paste form is used more widely. Since Dijon mustard goes well with so many different dishes, both as a rub and a condiment, it is easy to run out of this mustard quickly.
- We have put together this list of Dijon mustard substitutes for this very situation. Read on to find the best Dijon mustard substitute that will not just replace this mustard but also make your dish taste better.
Dijon Mustard Substitutes
Dijon Mustard’s sharp and strong flavor isn’t easy to replicate, but the substitutes mentioned below come very close to matching its exact flavor profile. While some may be milder or stronger in taste, all these substitutes are great for when you don’t have Dijon Mustard handy.
1. Yellow Mustard
- Yellow Mustard, also known as American Mustard, is one of the closest substitutes for Dijon mustard in terms of flavor and texture. This mild tasting mustard is not just flavorful but is also very good for your health.
- Yellow mustard has less sodium than Dijon mustard and more minerals like vitamin C, potassium, and phosphorus. It also has turmeric as an ingredient which gives it its natural yellow/mustard color and is good for preventing diseases such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and cancer. Yellow mustard is also great for protecting your cells from cancer-causing compounds in processed meat.
- Yellow mustard is easily available in the market and comes in many types; you find both powder and paste varieties. You can even try making this at home to control the flavor profile.
- Yellow mustard goes great with all kinds of food. It is also preferred over Dijon mustard because of its mild taste. We have picked two of our favorite recipes with this mustard for you, try the Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce and Baked Honey Mustard Chicken.
2. Spicy Brown Mustard
- Spicy brown mustard is a spicy substitute for Dijon mustard. It gets the sharp flavor from the brown mustard seeds used in its production. These seeds also give it the iconic brown color. The mustard retains its spicy taste because it has less vinegar content to neutralize the spice.
- Spicy brown mustard also has less sodium than Dijon mustard and is coarser in texture. It is perfect for using in Deli recipes like roast beef and sausages because of its strong taste. You can make this mustard at home, or buy processed varieties available in the market.
- When making this mustard at home you can adjust its flavor to suit your taste. We personally like to add a little earthy flavor to the mustard by adding in little quantities of spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. This also counters the strong taste of the mustard and helps it gel well with other flavors. Speaking of which, here are our two favorite recipes that use spicy brown mustard; try the Spicy Brown Mustard Pork Chops and the Spicy Brown Mustard Chicken.
3. Honey Mustard
- Honey Mustard is a sweet substitute for Dijon mustard. Just like with spicy brown mustard, you can adjust the flavor profile of honey mustard so that it mimics that of Dijon mustard. But we don’t think you would want to do that because this mustard tastes heavenly.
- The sweetness of the honey mustard is, of course, attributed to the honey mixed in with all the other ingredients. This sweet mustard variation goes well with chicken, pork, fish, and vegetables. It also acts like a delicious condiment to French fries, salads, and baked pretzels
- You can buy honey mustard from a store easily. There are many varieties of the mustard available, some with different flavor profiles. We like to make this mustard at home, to get that perfect taste. We also mix in a little mayonnaise with the mustard to give it that extra kick. Here is the recipe we use to make the perfect honey mustard.
- While we prefer our honey mustard sweet, if you want a more Dijon mustard-y flavor you can add herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme to counter the sweetness. We love using honey mustard when making Honey-Mustard Chicken and Apples and Vegetables with Honey Mustard Sauce.
4. Wasabi
- Wasabi is another spicy addition to the Dijon mustard substitute list. This Japanese condiment/root packs a lot of heat and is the perfect partner to sushi. However, unlike chili peppers, Wasabi’s hot flavor only lasts for a couple of seconds before fading. This makes it the perfect kick of spice for any dish.
- Wasabi may be a great substitute for Dijon mustard but it is difficult to get your hands on the real thing. Unless you’re actually in Japan, you really can’t find the original Wasabi root which is the principal ingredient in this sauce. Also, the market is full of fake Wasabi products that use horseradish and artificial coloring to trick people into believing that they are selling Wasabi. These products, though cheaper, don’t have the same flavor as the original. Head here to see all about how Wasabi is made and where you can find the original product
- Wasabi also has antibacterial properties that prevent food poisoning and contains nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and potassium. This healthy substitute to Dijon mustard is used in moderate quantities because of its spice content. Here are some recipes you can try and become a wasabi fan.
5. Horseradish Sauce
Pork aspic in transparent glass bowl beet horseradish sauce in small glass French mustard in small glass jar
- Horseradish and mustard have similar flavor profiles, which is the reason why they are a good substitute for each other. Horseradish sauce is a simple three ingredient concoction that you can put together in minutes. It is an amazing substitute to Dijon mustard because it has a tangy sweet flavor that is delicious.
- A basic horseradish sauce requires grated horseradish, sour cream, and honey. However, to get a more intense flavor you can add in other ingredients and adjust the taste. Here is our favorite recipe for this sauce.
- Horseradish sauce is also amazing because it goes well with so many dishes. It is rarely used as a rub but stars as a winning condiment for all kinds of meals. We prefer having this sauce with Chicken Shawarma and Prime Rib.
6. 4 Spice Powder
- The 4 Spice powder is made of turmeric, garlic, salt, and chili peppers. This powder is a good substitute for Dijon mustard because it matches its spicy flavor. You can use as many or less of each powdered spice as you want to get the desired taste. The powder can also be mixed with vinegar or mayonnaise to make a sauce.
- The 4 spice powder is basically used to season your favorite dishes. You can use the method above to turn it into a sauce and serve as a condiment, but you will have to add other ingredients to make the taste better. We love making Gordon Ramsay's roast potatoes by substituting the spices in the recipe with this powder. This powder is also best for people who don’t like or are allergic to mustard.
7. DIY Mustard Sauce
- Another great alternative to store bought Dijon mustard is to make your own at home. Follow this simple recipe to make a fresh batch:
Take
- 3 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp water
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar ( or 1/2 white wine + 1/2 white vinegar)
- 3 tsp mayonnaise
- a pinch of sugar
Then
- Soak the mustard seeds in vinegar for 2 days
- Once done, add in all other ingredients and grind in a mortar and pestle until a smooth paste like consistency is attained
You can substitute mayonnaise with heavy cream and sugar with some honey. Also, try this recipe.
The Final Word
These amazing Dijon Mustard substitutes don’t just taste amazing but are good for your health as well. While some of these sauces may be spicier or sweeter than the original Dijon taste, you can still tweak the flavor to make them mimic the taste you love.
Do you know any other good substitutes for Dijon mustard? Let us know in the comments section below. Also, share your experiences making the DIY versions of the sauce.