While making homemade mustard may seem like a very difficult process, when done properly it is actually quite easy. While a traditional yellow mustard is a common choice, adding different spices or other flavorings can significantly alter its taste. Experiment with a variety of ingredients in order to find the combination that works best for you.
Determine What Type of Mustard You Want
In order to make great homemade mustard, it is essential to first determine exactly how the mustard should taste. While a traditional mustard may be great for some people, others will want a little added kick. Typically, adding honey to your mustard will create a sweeter flavor, while vinegar may make it more sour. Mustard is relatively inexpensive to make, so you can experiment with a number of different flavors and not be worried about breaking the bank.
Purchase Your Ingredients
To make homemade mustard, you will need to purchase (or have on hand) lemon juice, mustard seeds, flour, garlic, salt, powdered sugar and turmeric. These are the necessary ingredients for plain old mustard. Specially flavored mustards require additional ingredients that should, ideally, be in their most natural form. This means free from added salt, flavorings or other additives that may potentially interfere with the flavor of your homemade mustard. While most of these ingredients can be located in traditional grocery stores, others may need to be purchased from organic retailers or online suppliers. When buying online, purchase only a small amount of the necessary ingredient. If you love the product, you can always purchase more, but you don’t want to be saddled with boxes and boxes of something you don’t like.
Making the Mustard
Start by adding a few tablespoons of lemon juice to approximately one cup of water. To this mixture, add around 6 tablespoons of mustard seed. Let the mixture sit overnight. After this amount of time has passed, put the mixture into a food processor. Add 1/2 cup of flour, a few cloves of garlic (depending on your personal preferences), and one tablespoon each of salt, powdered sugar and turmeric. Run the food processor for around three minutes, or until everything has been thoroughly mixed. Add any extra ingredients, such as the honey, vinegar or even beer at this time.
Storing the Mustard
In order to prevent the growth of mold or bacteria, it is essential to store or package the homemade mustard properly. As soon as the mustard has been made, place in an airtight container and store it. If the mustard is going to be used immediately, it can be stored in the refrigerator. If it’s not for immediate use, place it in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer.
