Dijon mustard is a fantastic and versatile ingredient that adds complex flavor to so many dishes we love. It’s perfect in a marinade, vinaigrette, dipping sauce, or topping for your sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs. So what to do when you don’t have Dijon mustard on hand? Luckily there are many great substitutes for Dijon mustard that you likely have in your pantry.
What is Dijon Mustard?
All prepared mustard is made from mustard seeds that are ground into a paste with other liquids. The result is a tangy condiment that adds a complex bite to any dish. Mustard seeds can be brown, black, or yellow. Yellow mustard seeds are the mildest, while brown and black are spicy and aromatic.
Dijon mustard is a variety that originated in France and became popular in the 19th century. It is made with brown mustard seeds and characteristically uses white wine instead of vinegar.
The original version was made with verjuice, which is the juice of unripe grapes, but white wine is most common now in popular brands like Grey Poupon. Dijon does have a strong flavor, yet is less acidic, and is a perfect punch to add to sauces, marinades, and salad dressings.
Easy Substitutes For Dijon Mustard
Spicy Brown Mustard
A spicy brown mustard is the closest prepared mustard to Dijon. It is made from brown mustard seeds. Typically the texture is slightly coarser than Dijon, but it has a similar flavor profile.
Spicy brown mustard will work great in any recipe. Substitute it 1:1 for Dijon mustard.
Stone Ground Mustard
Sometimes called whole-grain mustard, stone ground mustard is also made from brown mustard seeds. However, they are left nearly intact with many whole seeds visible. A mustard seed’s strong flavor is released when it is ground up. So, more intact seeds result in a milder flavor. You’ll notice a more grainy texture and mellow flavor, but it is a nice option for substituting Dijon.
Go ahead and use stone ground mustard in a 1:1 swap for Dijon.
Yellow Mustard
If you don’t have other brown grain mustards, you likely have yellow mustard in the fridge. Yellow mustard is made with yellow mustard seeds that are more mild. It is prepared with white vinegar, other spices, and some turmeric for color.
Because yellow mustard is a milder version, it’s also a safe substitute for Dijon. It doesn’t pack the same punchy heat but has a much more sharp and acidic flavor . For this reason, go a but lighter on the measurement and add a pinch of black pepper or cayenne.
We recommend you substitute yellow mustard ¾ :1 for Dijon. If you want that heat that Dijon adds, add a pinch of black pepper or cayenne.
Horseradish
Prepared creamy horseradish is another condiment with a kick like Dijon mustard. Horseradish is a root vegetable that’s ground and mixed into an emulsion with oil and vinegar. It has a creamy texture similar to mayo. It is very pungent and famous for its power to clear your sinuses with just one bite.
Because horseradish has similar characteristics to mustard, it can work as a substitute if you have it. Be sure it’s prepared horseradish (sold as a pantry item), not pure grated horseradish (sold in the refrigerated section), which will be too strong. A little goes a long way.
Start with half the amount of horseradish as Dijon needed in a recipe and add more as you need.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise has the right creamy and tangy qualities to reasonably substitute for Dijon mustard. It is mild, so it is a great option if you don’t like the punch of mustard.
Use mayonnaise in a 1:1 ratio for dijon in your recipe.
Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire has a similar flavor profile as Dijon mustard, so it can work in a pinch. It’s more liquid than Dijon’s creaminess, so be prepared to adjust other liquids in the recipe as needed.
We recommend you start with a ½ :1 swap of Worcestershire sauce to Dijon.
Ground Mustard
This one is only best in a pinch but can work if you have ground mustard on your spice rack. Mustard powder is simply dried and ground mustard seeds. It doesn’t work great as a straight substitute, but mixing it with some other additions can work.
For every tablespoon of Dijon, use 1 teaspoon of dry mustard, 1 teaspoon of vinegar (white wine vinegar if possible), and 1 teaspoon mayo. Check out the full recipe below!
FAQ
Because they are made with different types of mustard seeds–brown vs. yellow–there aren’t additions to yellow mustard that can make it just like Dijon. You can simply use yellow mustard as a straight substitute, or add a bit of mayo to cut the acidity of the yellow mustard.
Yes! You can make Dijon mustard at home with whole mustard seeds. I developed the recipe (you can watch how to make Dijon) for Taste of Home. The process is not quick since the mustard seeds need to soak for several hours, so plan ahead!
Yes, most of the time. Dijon has a more mellow, yet spicier, flavor profile compared to yellow. So just be prepared for a little more heat. If the recipe uses a lot of yellow mustard, like our Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce, we do not recommend substituting with Dijon.
Honestly, no. They each have their own unique flavor profile that will carry through in your recipe, but any prepared mustard can be substituted for dijon. We chose the mustards that most closely mimic Dijon in this article.
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Dijon Mustard Substitute
Description
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon dried ground mustard
- 1 heaping teaspoon mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together dried mustard, mayonnaise and vinegar.
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Notes
Nutrition
