Pickled Mustard Seeds: How to Make Them (2024)

Have you ever tried pickled mustard seeds? They're such a unique flavor and texture addition to many different meals. You'd be forgiven to think that pickled mustard seeds taste the same as homemade mustard, which is made from the exact same ingredients.

Pickled mustard seeds are much different from mustard in so many ways.

Let's discuss this interesting condiment.

What Are Pickled Mustard Seeds?

Pickled mustard seeds are dry mustard seeds that have been soaked in a flavored vinegar solution until they absorb and swell with that infused flavor. The seeds are popularly used as a condiment, sandwich topping, salad dressing accompaniment, and can be frequently found on charcuterie boards.

Let's talk about how we make them, shall we?

Pickled Mustard Seeds Ingredients

• Yellow Mustard Seeds.
• Apple Cider Vinegar.
• Salt.
• Honey. Or sugaror more for more sweet and less bitter.
• Red Pepper Flakes.Optional.
• Black Pepper.

How to Pickle Mustard Seeds - the Recipe Method

First, rinse 1/2 cup of yellow mustard seeds with water through a sieve or through a cheese cloth.

Next, add the rinsed seeds, 3/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a small bowl. Soak the seeds for two hours at room temperature.

Next, add the soaked mustard seeds to a small saucepan. Stir in 2 tablespoons of honey or sugar (optional for a touch of sweetness), 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes if you'd like a bit of heat, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Skip the flakes if you'd like a milder condiment.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Allow to cool. Stir in an extra ¼ cup of vinegar and transfer to a jar or container and seal. Keep in the refrigerator.

Boom! You've got yourself some pickled mustard seeds. They look wonderful, don't they? Tiny little burst of flavor that will add a bit of zing to any dish.

Recipe Notes & Tips

• Recipe Variations. You can add other ingredients to play with the flavors. Some ideas include chopped onion, garlic (though it won’t last as long), other seasonings like turmeric, crushed peppercorns, spicy chili powders, dried herbs and more.
• Other Liquids. Try replacing some of the vinegar with another flavorful liquid, like beer, wine or juice. This will change the final flavor of the condiment, which could be fun and interesting.
• Mustard Seeds. I've made this with yellow mustard seeds, as they are the most popular for serving, but you can make pickled mustard seeds with brown or black mustard seeds. Those seeds are more bitter, so plan accordingly.
• Vinegar. I've used apple cider vinegar for the sweetness and tang, but feel free to substitute other vinegars, such as white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar.
• Bitterness. Mustard seeds have an inherent bitterness to them. If you feel the resulting condiment is too bitter, try soaking the seeds for longer, or use more honey or sugar. You can also bring the seeds to a quick boil in water then rinse them off a few times to remove the bitter tannins before continuing with the vinegar.

How Long Do Pickled Mustard Seeds Last?

Pickled mustard seeds will last several months refrigerated. If the seeds dry out or become too thick, as they will continue to absorb the liquid, simply swirl in a bit more vinegar to keep them moist.

10 Ways to Use Pickled Mustard Seeds

1. Swirl them into a spinach salad with a zingy vinaigrette.
2. Stir them into dressings for a flavor and texture boost.
3. Spoon them onto deviled eggs for an appetizer upgrade.
4. Stir them into egg salad for a new take on egg salad sandwiches.
5. Scoop them onto a sandwich instead of mustard.
6. Use them as a topping for grilled sausages or hot dogs, or over grilled pork chops or chicken breast.
7. Scoop them over fatty meats, like corned beef, steaks, roasts or pulled pork.
8. Serve them with your next charcuterie board.
9. Swirl them into your favorite dips.
10. Spoon some into your next potato salad.

Mustard Recipes

If you enjoy mustard, try making some at home. Here are some links to the different homemade mustards I enjoy making.

• Homemade Whole Grain Spicy Beer Mustard
• Homemade Spicy Mustard
• Beer-Honey Mustard
• Homemade Yellow Mustard
• How to Make Homemade Mustard: The Basics

See the list of mustard recipes in our Homemade Condiments Recipes.

Here are some links to purchase mustard seeds from Amazon. These are affiliate links, my friends. I buy them in bulk for making mustard whenever I want. Great stuff!

• Yellow Mustard Seeds
• Brown Mustard Seeds
• Black Mustard Seeds
• Mustard Powder