Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

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Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (1)

by: Bill

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Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (2)

Chinese Hot Mustard is one of those condiments you might not think of making yourself, but it’s quick and easy to prepare at home.

Many of you have probably seen Chinese mustard served alongside sweet duck sauce in Chinese restaurants with crunchy fried noodles as an appetizer.

Admittedly, general hot sauce mania means that hot chili oil has taken over as the spicy condiment of choice over Chinese hot mustard. But I think plenty of people will agree that there’s nothing like a mix of Chinese hot mustard with some duck sauce to top off a good egg roll, fried wonton, or piece of roasted pork belly with crunchy skin.

What is Chinese Hot Mustard?

You know those yellow packets you get at the takeout Chinese restaurants along with the orange duck sauce and red hot sauce packets? (When the person behind the counter asks in the most blunt and vague way, “Sauce?!”)

The yellow packets are Chinese hot mustard!

Chinese mustard is pungent, spicy and strong in taste, and it’ll wake your taste buds up immediately with its horseradish-like heat. Like wasabi, it has sinus-clearing properties. Even a whiff will make your nostrils flare!

As you’re making this recipe, keep in mind that it can be adjusted entirely to your taste, and adding some rice vinegar will definitely tone down the spiciness, making your mustard slightly more mellow.

Where to Buy Chinese Mustard?

Chinese dry mustard powder can be found at Asian grocery stores and usually is made of dry mustard with some turmeric.

For this recipe, we used an English dry mustard powder, which is more than fine to make a good Chinese hot mustard.

Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (3)

Chinese mustard packets are convenient for those of you who love a little bit of spice with your Chinese takeout meal, but I can hear Kaitlin’s voice in my head scolding me about single-use plastic and all those little bits of plastic from the packets!

If you don’t already have a junk drawer filled with soy sauce, mustard, and ketchup packets, you can also buy Chinese mustard sold in jars, but it’s not a common item. In a pinch, prepared dijon mustard is a potential substitute, but I can hear one of my old buddies saying, “It just ain’t the same!”

That’s why we’re here to teach you how to make Chinese hot mustard at home.

How to Store It

At our Chinese restaurant, we used to cover the mustard immediately after making it so it wouldn’t dry out. We’d stir it up before serving.

Because it’s so easy to make, I like making smaller batches so it’s always fresh, and I don’t have to deal with storing leftovers.

If making larger batches, always remember to use a clean utensil when stirring and serving your mustard. It’s best to keep it refrigerated for maximum longevity. If maintained this way, it’ll last for weeks or even months in the fridge.

What Recipes Could Use a Little Mustard?

  • Cantonese Roast Pork Belly
  • Chinese Takeout Egg Rolls
  • Fried Wontons
  • Fried Cream Cheese Wontons
  • Roast Pork Sandwiches on Garlic Bread

Check out our classic Chinese Takeout Collection of recipes for more ideas!

Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (4)

How to Make Chinese Hot Mustard

Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (5)

Mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl until evenly combined. Add water and stir well until a liquid paste forms and all dry ingredients are absorbed. If you like a thicker mustard, you can reduce the amount of water by half.

Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (6)

Next, add oil and vinegar and stir well until evenly combined.

Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (7)

Let your Chinese hot mustard rest for 10 minutes covered, and re-stir to ensure the dry ingredients have fully absorbed.

At this point, taste your Chinese Hot Mustard and adjust it to your own preferences:

  • Add a little more water or oil if you like a thinner in consistency or a bit more dry mustard if you like it thicker.
  • Add more rice vinegar if you like it a tad tart. Omit the vinegar altogether if you like it spicier, since vinegar makes your mustard a bit mellower in flavor––sounds counterintuitive, I know!
  • Add more white pepper and/or mustard powder if you like it spicier.
  • Add sugar (optional) if you want to balance the bitterness of the mustard

Any changes beyond that, and it’s your own sauce folks! But that’s the beauty of home cooking.

Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (8)

You now have authentic Chinese hot mustard that is much better than the packets you get at Chinese take-out restaurants.

No preservatives. No unknowns. Enjoy this authentic Chinese hot mustard recipe!

Looking for other condiment recipes? Check these out:

  • How to Make Duck Sauce
  • Homemade Chili Oil
  • Chiu Chow Chili Sauce (Chili Oil with Garlic!)
  • Homemade XO Sauce
  • Ginger Scallion Oil with Chilies

Looking for more authentic recipes? Subscribe to our email list and be sure to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube!

4.91 from 53 votes

Chinese Hot Mustard

Chinese Hot Mustard is one of those condiments that you don’t think of making at home yourself, but the recipe is so quick and easy to prepare.

by: Bill

Course:Condiments

Cuisine:Chinese

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon mustard powder
  • teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon white pepper
  • teaspoon hot water
  • ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar optional

Instructions

  • Mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl until evenly combined. Add water and stir well until a liquid paste forms and all dry ingredients are absorbed. Next, add oil and vinegar and stir well until evenly combined.

  • Let your Chinese hot mustard rest for 10 minutes covered, and re-stir to ensure the dry ingredients have fully absorbed. At this point, taste your Chinese Hot Mustard and adjust it to your own preferences.

  • Add a little more water or oil if you like a thinner in consistency. Add more vinegar if you like it a tad tart. Omit the vinegar altogether if you like it spicier, since vinegar makes your mustard a bit mellower in flavor. Add more white pepper and/or mustard powder if you like it spicier. Add sugar if you want to tone down the bitterness of the dry mustard.

Tips & Notes:

NOTE: Since Chinese mustard is so easy to make, we like to make in small amounts to have it fresh every time. Feel free to multiply the ingredients proportionally to make larger batches.

nutrition facts

Calories: 13kcal (1%) Carbohydrates: 1g Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 1g (2%) Saturated Fat: 1g (5%) Sodium: 73mg (3%) Potassium: 13mg Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Calcium: 5mg (1%) Iron: 0.2mg (1%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

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@thewoksoflife

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Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (14)

About Bill

Bill is the dad of The Woks of Life family. He grew up in upstate New York, working through high school and college in restaurants with his father, a chef. Rose from modest beginnings as a Burger King sandwich assembler to Holiday Inn busboy and line cook, to cooking at the family's Chinese restaurant, while also learning the finer points of Cantonese cooking from his immigrant parents. Specializes in all things traditional Cantonese and American Chinese takeout.

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Chinese Hot Mustard: Easy, Authentic Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

What's in Chinese hot mustard? ›

Chinese mustard is simple and uncomplicated to make with dry mustard, white pepper, and water. No cooking is needed! It can be diluted further with the addition of more water.

What is a substitute for Chinese hot mustard powder? ›

If it's difficult to source, Colman's English mustard is a reliable substitute in a pinch, with a sharp pungency that can fill in as dupe. It's made from a combination of both white and brown mustard seeds, giving it that signature kick.

What is the best hot mustard? ›

Our Top-Rated Mustard: Kozlik's Canadian Deli Mustard

It has an aroma that I often associate with fermented foods, and perhaps that's why it rose to the top. The bright heat zings the roof of your mouth and fills your senses with fragrant heat that has a barely noticeable touch of sweetness on the finish.

Is Chinese mustard healthy? ›

Because Chinese mustard is a good source of antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamin C (Table 2), consumption may help protect against free radicals and oxidative-related diseases (Frazie et al.

What are the ingredients in Chinese hot mustard packets? ›

Ingredients: water, mustard, seasoning (mustard, salt, sugar, xanthan gum, oleoresin turmeric, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate), and sugar.

What is another name for Chinese mustard? ›

Brassica juncea, commonly brown mustard, Chinese mustard, Indian mustard, leaf mustard, Oriental mustard and vegetable mustard, is a species of mustard plant.

Why does Chinese mustard taste different? ›

The brown mustard seeds used in Chinese hot mustard are stronger than the black and white mustard seeds used in some other types of mustard.

Is Chinese mustard the same as dijon? ›

Today, many Dijon-style mustards are made with white wine or other low-acid liquids. Hotter than standard yellow mustard but less hot than the super-intense Chinese or English varieties, Dijon is a great condiment to have on hand for sandwiches, salad dressings, and other dishes where a bit of punch is welcome.

Is ground mustard the same as Chinese mustard? ›

Hot Chinese mustard will make a spicy mustard, whereas a regular Ground Yellow Mustard will produce something a little bit more mellow.

Why is it called hot mustard? ›

The term "hot mustard" is used for mustards prepared to bring out the natural piquancy of the mustard seeds. This is enhanced by using more pungent black or brown mustard seeds rather than yellow mustard seeds, and the low acidity of the liquid used.

Are horseradish and mustard the same? ›

Unlike mustard seeds, horseradish root is activated as soon as it is grated: the finer the grate, the more potent the strength. Combining horseradish with vinegar and salt neutralizes the isothiocyanate and stabilizes the flavor.

Is English mustard the same as hot mustard? ›

Heat level: High, but not as hot as Chinese hot mustard. Use: In sandwiches, roasts, or sauces. English mustard is just one variety of hot mustard. Most commonly seen under the Colman's brand, English mustard is a mix of yellow and brown mustard seeds.

What do they put in Chinese hot mustard? ›

WATER, MUSTARD SEEDS, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR, SUGAR, SALT, ARTIFICIAL MUSTARD OIL, GARLIC, SPICES, XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS, TURMERIC, LICORICE ROOT, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA, GINGER.

Does Chinese hot mustard need to be refrigerated? ›

Although hot mustard can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container, it is best to make what you will use at the time. The reason for this is because it looses its heat and flavor over time. It does not take long to make, but should be prepared a few minutes before the meal is served.

Does Chinese mustard go bad? ›

Though each bottle's lifespan will vary, in general, mustard's flavor and texture will degrade over time, making it unusable. Still, many mustards last for months — some even stay good for up to 2 to 3 years!

Is Chinese mustard different than regular mustard? ›

However, there is one major difference: While English mustard uses a combination of mild yellow mustard seeds and hotter brown seeds, Chinese mustard uses the hotter, brown mustard seeds only.

What is in mustard that makes it hot? ›

Allyl isothiocyanate and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate are responsible for the sharp, hot, pungent sensation in mustards and in horseradish, wasabi, and garlic, because they stimulate the heat- and acidity-sensing TRPV ion channel TRPV1 on nociceptors (pain sensing nerve cell) in the mouth and nasal passages.

Why is Chinese mustard so strong? ›

Chinese mustard begins with brown mustard seeds, just like many other mustards with a kick, including spicy brown and whole grain. According to Spruce Eats, the seeds are dried and then ground into a fine powder. The powder is then mixed with cold water — and this is key to getting that heat.

What is in Japanese hot mustard? ›

Karashi (辛子, からし) is Japanese hot mustard made of a mixture of crushed mustard seeds of Brassica juncea and horseradish. It's used as a condiment or as a seasoning in Japanese cuisine, such as oden, gyoza, and tonkatsu.

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