Some foods are just better eaten alongside dips and condiments. Besides ketchup and BBQ sauce, it’s also possible to create the quintessential mustard from just a couple of basic cooking ingredients.

The best part is that it’s all organic, so it’s 100 percent guaranteed free of the artificial ingredients and chemicals added to processed condiments.

Health benefits of mustard seeds

Mustard is made from the seeds of mustard plants. There are lots of different mustard plants out there, and each of them produce unique-tasting seeds. The seeds are often ground up and used as a spice, but adding them to liquids creates the prepared mustard you’d find at the supermarket.

Not a fan of mustard? You might be missing out. Mustard seeds are a great source of selenium, an essential trace mineral that supports brain health and protects against heart disease.

Classified under the Brassica genus of plants, mustard is also rich in organic, sulfur-rich compounds called glucosinolates. These compounds are hailed for their potent cancer-fighting properties and beneficial effects on immune functions.

Simple homemade mustard recipe

Homemade foods (and condiments) trump processed ones any day. Here’s a simple recipe for making mustard (h/t to SimpleLifeMom.com)

Total time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brown mustard seeds
• 1/2 cup yellow mustard powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Preparation:

1. Soak the mustard seeds for at least two hours, or set them aside overnight. This lets the seeds soften and become more malleable for cooking. Soaking them also helps reduce their sharp and bitter taste.
2. Once the seeds are soft enough, drain them. Then, grind the seeds using a coffee grinder or a food processor. You can also use a blender or a good old mortar and pestle. The idea is to grind them so that the seeds begin to resemble a paste.
3. At this point, you can also add grated horseradish or chopped chili peppers for a spicier mustard.
4. Add the mustard powder to this paste to give it that characteristic mustard color. Let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
5. Once the 10 minutes are up, add the remaining ingredients (salt, white wine vinegar and turmeric) to taste. Blend or grind the mixture again until there are no more lumps.
6. If you prefer a milder-tasting mustard, add a bit of honey to taste.

Read more articles about the health benefits of mustard seeds at Seeds.news.

Sources:

TimesOfIndia.IndiaTimes.com

SimpleLifeMom.com