Have you ever had that moment when you open your pantry or refrigerator and find you do not have the exact ingredient? Dijon Mustard is one of the easiest ingredients to substitute.

Dijon mustard comes in many varieties. When substituting traditional Dijon mustard use equivalent amounts of other mustards. To enhance the spicy bite of the mustard, use Spicy Brown Mustard, Hot Mustard, Creole Mustard, Wasabi, or Horseradish Sauce. To enhance the complexities of a dish use Honey Mustard, German Mustard, Beer Mustard, Creole Mustard, or Worcestershire Sauce. If the goal is the emulsification in a recipe and not the flavor mayonnaise will do the trick.

There are many options as substitutes for Dijon Mustard. You can use any mustard that you like. Use the following information to help you pick your substitute based on flavor.

What is Dijon Mustard? Why do we use it? How do we use it?

Introduction

Typically thought of as a condiment, Dijon Mustard is a popular ingredient in cooking as well. Mustard is a centuries old ingredient that adds depth to sauces, salad dressings and more.

What is Dijon Mustard?

Dijon Mustard comes from the mix of ground mustard seeds with a liquid (primarily water, vinegar, beer, or wine) and other seasonings.

There are more than 40 different mustard plant varieties. The three most common mustard seeds used are black, brown, and white. Mustard in its many forms is one of the most used spices around the world.

Flavors & Uses of Dijon Mustard

Dijon Mustard is a tangy, sharp flavored ingredient. It is sometimes a little spicy. The flavor of Dijon Mustard can vary by brand as well as recipe.

Dijon Mustard is used as a topping, salad dressing ingredient, and sauce ingredient. In addition, Dijon mustard works well as a binder and thickener.

Substitutions for Dijon Mustard

Any mustard can be substituted for Dijon Mustard. Pick your mustard substitute based on flavor. Are you looking for a sweeter mustard? A spicier mustard? Do you like a tart, vinegar mustard?

17 Best Dijon Mustard Substitutes

When choosing a substitute for Dijon Mustard consider the desired thickness of your sauce or salad dressing. Other things to consider are flavor and texture.

Spicy Brown Mustard

Spicy Brown Mustard is a coarsely ground mustard. It makes a good substitute for those who like spice. Brown Mustard is spicier than Dijon Mustard and has a slightly deeper and more complicated flavor.

It goes well on sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, and burgers. It is a good substitute in sauces for meats such as chicken, pork, and beef. Like Dijon Mustard, Spicy Brown Mustard is a good emulsifier for salad dressings and sauces.

Yellow Mustard

Yellow Mustard is a good substitute for Dijon for those who prefer a tangier, brighter flavor. Like Spicy Brown Mustard, Yellow Mustard works as an emulsifier in salad dressings and sauces.

Yellow Mustard goes well on sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, and burgers. It is a common and popular addition to these foods.

Honey Mustard

Honey Mustard is one of the sweeter and smoother mustards. For those who like honey and sweeter sauces or salad dressings Honey Mustard is a good substitute for Dijon.

As with most of the mustards mentioned in this article, Honey mustard is an emulsifier. If you don’t have it you can make Honey Mustard by mixing Honey with plain yellow mustard.

Stone Ground Mustard

Stone Ground Mustard is coarser than Dijon. Some Brown Mustards fall into this category. Depending on the type of mustard seed used Stone Ground Mustard, the mustard can be spicier or milder.

Stone Ground Mustard is popularly used on sausages and with meats and cheeses. It is also a good emulsifier. When it comes to recipes that want or need an emulsifier a more ground mustard works best. The less ground the seeds the less emulsification will happen.

German Mustard

German Mustard, like Spicy Brown Mustard, tends to be spicier than Dijon Mustard. Some German Mustards are sweeter due to the ingredients used.

Like all mustards German Mustard works well as an emulsifier. German Mustards can be smoothly ground or coarsely ground. When it comes to recipes that want or need an emulsifier a more ground mustard works best. The less ground the seeds the less emulsification will happen.

Chinese Mustard

Chinese Mustard is a hot and spicy alternative for Dijon Mustard. It has a similar flavor and spiciness to Horseradish and wasabi.

Chinese Mustard makes a great condiment. It is especially popular as a pairing for appetizers and meats. This makes it a good substitute for anything that uses other Chinese spices.

Hot Mustard

Hot Mustard can fall into a number of categories of Mustard, from German to Chinese. Hot and Spicy Mustards are good for sauces paired with beef and steak. Anything that goes well with horseradish or wasabi can be paired with Hot and Spicy Mustard.

If you find that Hot and Spicy Mustard is too Hot and Spicy you can pair it with Honey, a sweet or balsamic vinegar, or ketchup. These will balance out the spicy in the mustard. If doing this use half mustard and half of the honey, vinegar, or ketchup.

Whole Grain Mustard

Whole Grain Mustard is less acidic than Dijon and other mustards. It also tends to be spicier since it has whole seeds. Whole Grain Mustard adds texture to sauces and can be paired with a more blended version if emulsification is desired.

Beer Mustard

Beer Mustard is a mustard made using Beer as the liquid in the recipe. Beer mustard is a good substitute for Dijon in dishes that pair well with beer.

The flavor of a beer mustard will depend on the type of mustard seeds used as well as the beer used to make the mustard. Sample the mustard first before using it in a dish.

Creole Mustard

Creole Mustard is a tangy mustard with a spicy bite. Its complex flavors pair well with sausages, sandwiches, and in potato and pasta salads.

This Mustard is a good substitute for Dijon Mustard if you like tangy and spicy mustards. If the Creole Mustard, you have is too spicy you can mix it with Honey or ketchup to balance the spice.

Dried Mustard

Dry Mustard makes a good substitute for Dijon when making an emulsification. The flavor is bitter and spicy. To create the tartness of the vinegar in fresh mustard add 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar for each 1 teaspoon of dry mustard.

Substitute 1 tsp Dry mustard + 1-2 tsp of vinegar for 1 tablespoon of fresh mustard.

Mustard Seeds

To substitute Mustards Seeds for Dijon Mustard use 1 teaspoon of seeds for each Tablespoon of Dijon Mustard. Grind and crush the seeds. If you like the tartness of fresh mustard add a teaspoon of vinegar for each teaspoon for seeds.

Mustard Seeds add texture to dishes. For a milder flavor use yellow mustard seeds. For a spicier flavor use brown or black mustard seeds.

Caraway Seeds

Caraway seeds have a nutty, bittersweet flavor. Other flavors include citrus, pepper, and anise. If you are a fan of Caraway seed flavor, then grinding them and mixing them with vinegar will give a good flavor substitute for Mustard.

As with Mustard seeds 1 teaspoon of Caraway for every tablespoon of fresh mustard.

Wasabi

Wasabi has a similar profile to hot mustard, Chinese mustard, and horseradish. It is spicy and works well as a substitute for Dijon in Asian dishes and any dishes where you want to highlight the spicy notes of the flavor.

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise matches Dijon Mustard as an emulsifier. The flavors are quite different. If making a creamy salad dressing Mayo is a good substitute.

If you want to match the flavor of Dijon mix the mayo with dry mustard or mustard seeds and vinegar.

Horseradish Sauce

Horseradish Sauce is a good substitute for Dijon Mustard in sauces. It pairs well with beef and steak. Like Wasabi it has similar flavors to hot mustard and Chinese mustard.

Horseradish is a good substitute for those who like spicier dishes. If you also like the tartness of mustard, you can add a splash of vinegar (ideally a wine vinegar for a more complex flavor).

Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce has a tartness similar to mustard. It also has a sweet and savory flavor. Worcestershire sauce is not spicy so if you like spicy mustards you can match the heat with wasabi or horseradish. Worcestershire sauce is best used as a substitute in sauces.

Wrap Up

If you like to experiment, try different mustard substitutions. Herb mustard variations (such as tarragon or basil mustard) are especially delicious in salad dressings. Honey mustards and smokey mustards make great sauces for meat. Whatever you decide, always know you have other options.

I hope these options have sparked an idea or two for you. Remember you can use any mustard so if you have favorite mustard that is not on this list you can use it as a substitute for Dijon Mustard.