Basically, mustard is prepared in two steps: chop the mustard seeds and add cold water. This is how mustard is prepared. But knowing certain secrets, you can make a truly great mustard!
A few technological secrets. The burning taste of mustard is due to a substance that is contained inside the grains and reacts with cool or cold water. If the mustard is left uncovered, it will lose its pungent flavor within days or even hours. But if you add an acid, such as vinegar, this reaction slows down or stops altogether. The addition of salt not only improves the taste, but also increases the shelf life of the mustard. Cooked mustard practically does not spoil.
When choosing mustard seeds, you have three options: white, brown, and black. White mustard is the “softest”, black mustard is the sharpest.
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons of mustard seeds (I mixed three tablespoons of brown and one spoon of black), 3 tablespoons of mustard powder, a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar (homemade apple cider vinegar recipe here), 120 grams of cold drinking water, half a teaspoon of unrefined salt, by if desired – a tablespoon of honey and a bunch of any finely chopped herbs.
Preparation:
Grind the mustard seeds in a coffee grinder, blender, or by hand in a mortar. Do not be exhausted and try to turn them into a homogeneous powder! Pour into a bowl, add mustard powder and salt, and add honey and / or herbs here if you decide to use them. Stir, pour in vinegar and water – and mix thoroughly again. Then transfer the resulting mass to a glass dish, close the lid and leave in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
In the meantime – about the beneficial properties of mustard. Mustard seeds are an excellent source of selenium, a nutrient that has been shown to relieve asthma symptoms and some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, mustard contains magnesium, which is known for its benefits for the heart. In particular, it is essential for the prevention of heart attacks in patients with atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. But magnesium has many other beneficial properties. It helps to lower high blood pressure, restore normal sleep in menopausal women, and reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Well, to complete the list: mustard seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, phosphorus, calcium and B vitamins.