Serious Heat: Mustards to Spice Up Labor Day Cookouts
Note: On Wednesdays, Andrea Lynn, senior editor of Chile Pepper magazine, drops by with Serious Heat, with additional writing by Lillian Cho.
[Photograph: Bill Milne]
Think a lone jar of Dijon or squeeze-bottle of yellow in your fridge covers all your mustard needs for the Labor Day grilling holiday? Well, we were under that assumption too until we went on a quest to find the best spicy mustards around. From orange to white, smooth to chunky, mild to weepingly hot, each mustard we sampled was so original that by the time we had reached the end of the taste-test, we were mustard maniacs. These are our top favorites. But we're still open to opinion. What are your favorite mustards that pack a punch? Check out ours after the jump.
Appalachian Naturals Chipotle Honey Mustard
A lazy glow of chipotle provides smokiness while the wildflower honey adds hints of sugar, a fabulous juxtaposition of flavors when combined with the stone-ground mustard and variety of spices. It's just begging to be thickly spread on top of a hot dog.
True Natural Taste Organic Hearty Horseradish Mustard
A delightful, white mustard that is velvety smooth and elegantly textured. Extra spicy, super creamy and wonderfully horseradishy, slather this on practically anything from a pastrami sandwich to roasted asparagus. Or just eat it by the spoonful, as we were caught doing it at our desks.
Beaver Wasabi Mustard
Proceed with caution--this extra spicy mustard is worth every flame-filled bite. The creamy mustard is definitely wasabi-centric but provides a smooth burn. Pile it high on a burger!
Cherith Valley Jalapeno Cilantro Mustard
This piquant and bold mustard with chunks of chiles and onions smells like fresh salsa. Though it may look like a traditional yellow mustard, the flavors go a few steps further, with a carefully balanced mix of mustard, jalapeno and fresh cilantro.
Sprecher Brewing Company Spicy Brown Beer Mustard
Crack open this mug-shaped jar to find a perfect complement to brats and burgers (funny how those things go well with a beer to drink, too). The airy, bubbly mustard flavor practically dances around in the mouth and the fairly mild heat makes it even more tempting to guzzle down.
Restaurant Lulu Gourmet Mustard with Herbs de Provence
Opening this mustard is like unleashing a jar full of the Provencal sun. A mild mustard with a slight throat-warming punch, it has loads of whole mustard seeds and a massive blend of herbs. The taste is savory, garlicky, and floral from subtle lavender.
Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Wasabi Dipping Mustard
Although the raspberry taste doesn't command center stage, bask in the berry aroma of this lush mustard that delivers a kick of wasabi. The flavor combination might sound unusual, but it works so seamlessly, you'll wonder why you didn't think of it. Use this mustard to enliven boring old deviled eggs.
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17 Comments:
Pilsudski's Polish Mustard w/ Horseradish from Reading, PA. Deelish!
1stmakearoux at 9:08AM on 09/02/09
English mustard. Always. A jar will last you years.
NotAmerican at 9:42AM on 09/02/09
I've discovered that the quality of a mustard is determined by how young it is! And that mustard is a prime candidate for being home-made - it's pretty simple stuff!
drfugawe at 10:04AM on 09/02/09
@drfugawe: More information please! I'd love to try it..
Andrea Lynn at 10:36AM on 09/02/09
I have been saving two French mustards: a honey-mead stoneground one and a tarragon one. Both from Julhès in Paris.
malecki at 10:59AM on 09/02/09
beaver wasabi is the shit yo.
twoshoes at 11:29AM on 09/02/09
The Garlic Aioli Mustard from TJ's is fantastic for a bbq. It tastes great on everything!
pinkkerrylea at 12:01PM on 09/02/09
Why is it so hard to find Heinz dijon mustard at a grocery store? It's what they use at Burger Joint, right? And I'm always like, "Gimme one o'them giant tubs to take home!"
semarr at 12:07PM on 09/02/09
One of my favorite mustards isn't all that spicy, but I admit a childhood-long fondness for Inglehoffer's sweet mustard: But anything stone ground with horseradish is love.
bansidhe at 12:56PM on 09/02/09
I enjoy most Beaver mustards, but my favorite is a local mustard. Nine Fingers Mustard, made in Laurel, MT. Lots of area restaurants have it on the table right next to the heinz and french's. Definitely worth trying!
http://www.9fingersmustard.com
LaViolett at 2:01PM on 09/02/09
If you're in Los Angeles you have to have a jar (or two) of Philippes mustard on hand! It's so good on sandwiches.
sauerkrautball at 3:05PM on 09/02/09
how about honeycup brand honeymustard, you know the one that comes in the hexagonal jar with the red top? its sweet and yet has more bite and sting than most other mustards I've had. It's definitely my go to when it comes to honey mustard
younggunfoodie at 3:38PM on 09/02/09
Colman's mustard is my favorite, but I've been dying to try Philippe's. Is there anywhere on the east coast I can find it (I can't bear to spring for the shipping...)
ReneeRobinson at 4:16PM on 09/02/09
homemade mustard it the way to go!! The batch I made recently had mustard seeds that were soaked in beer and I added lots of thyme. http://meeksfood.blogspot.com/
surdel1 at 8:05PM on 09/02/09
OMG, why isn't Maille on here? It's the original dijon!
They have a version with green peppercorns that has a delightfully clean and sharp spicyness.
engill at 1:41AM on 09/03/09
I had some Heinz French Mustard in london a few years ago and it was the most amazing thing ever...and I have yet to find a similar product--or even the actual thing, save for in packets to buy from the UK (its in orange packets, not yellow like the normal english mustard).
judochop at 11:05AM on 09/03/09
Oh my. That Maille mustard is sooo good. I bought a jar in Paris because I loved it so much. And of course I see it sitting on the shelf at Safeway when I get home. I thought I was special. Any mustard with horseradish in it is wonderful.
andreab at 5:34PM on 09/03/09