Whole Grain Mustard Substitute

You’ve just started cooking a recipe, then you go to get out some whole grain mustard to add some flavor to the dish, when, oh no! You discover you don’t have any whole grain mustard! What can you use instead? What makes a good whole grain mustard substitute? 

Whether it’s for a recipe or you just really feel like adding some whole grain mustard to a ham sandwich or to use it as a condiment, don’t despair, there are some good whole grain mustard substitutes.

Wholegrain mustard adds a salty tanginess to your food, so you’ll want your substitute ingredient to also offer a similar taste and texture.

Hopefully you’ve got at least one of the following potential substitutes for whole grain mustard in your fridge or pantry so that you can continue with your recipe or go ahead and enjoy your snack! Here are, what we think are, the best substitutes for whole grain mustard:

Substitutes For Whole Grain Mustard

1. Wasabi

Wasabi offers quite a kick and packs a bunch of flavor within a very small amount. You won’t need as much wasabi as whole grain mustard to give a similar taste and effect. Try using about 3/4 of a teaspoon of wasabi for every 1 teaspoon of whole grain mustard you might otherwise have used.

2. Horseradish

Grated horseradish root adds a similar sharpness to your dish as regular whole grain mustard. It won’t give you quite the same tangy taste that whole grain mustard has, so you may want to experiment with adding other spices or salt to help the flavor pop.

Alternatively, hopefully you’ve got a jar of prepared horseradish cream or sauce in your fridge (I always do), it’s great for using as a condiment for roast beef and could easily be added to any dish as a substitute for whole grain mustard.

3. Soy Sauce

While soy sauce doesn’t really have a strong, mustardy flavor on its own, it does have a salty, rich taste that works well as a whole grain mustard substitute in many dishes and recipes.

You should be able to get away with using just half of the amount of soy sauce that would normally be needed for whole grain mustard in your recipe or snack.

4. Lemon Juice

The acid in lemon juice will do a great job of helping to boost the flavor of many things. It can be a great substitute for whole grain mustard for dips, salad dressings, or even marinades. Start by adding about half as much lemon juice as you would wholegrain mustard and go from there until it tastes right for you.

5. Tabasco Sauce

If you’re looking for something that has some spice then tabasco sauce is another good whole grain mustard substitute. A warning though, tabasco can be hot, so go easy with it adding a bit at a time until you reach your desired taste.

6. Other Types of Mustard

If you don’t have whole grain mustard in the house, maybe you’ve got some other type of mustard at hand? Any mustard from Dijon, French, or Yellow mustard could potentially act as a substitute for whole grain mustard. It all depends on what you are cooking/preparing and your taste preferences.

7. Vinegar

If you’re looking for a whole grain mustard substitute with an acidic tang, white vinegar is a good choice. You can use half as much white vinegar as whole grain mustard in your dish or recipe.

8. Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Lemon pepper seasoning offers that fresh-from-the-garden flavor of grated lemon peel and ground black pepper, which makes it a really flavorful alternative to whole grain mustard.

It also has the advantage of having a texture similar to whole grain mustard, so, if texture is important, lemon pepper could be a good substitute. But, first decide if your dish can handle the lemon flavor that comes with this condiment as a substitute.

9. Nothing

Leave it out! Especially if your recipe only calls for a small amount of whole grain mustard, you could, potentially, just leave out the whole grain mustard if you don’t have any or any of the substitutes.

Just taste your end result before serving – you might need or want to add some extra salt and/or pepper to boost the flavor of your dish. 

Finding a substitute for whole grain mustard is fairly easy if you have a well stocked kitchen. When choosing which substitute to use you’ll want to take into account what you are using it for.

For instance, you could easily use lemon juice, vinegar, or soy sauce as a substitute for whole grain mustard if it’s just to add some salty acidity to the dish you are preparing, like a stew or a casserole.

However, if you’re making a sandwich or using whole grain mustard as a condiment, you’ll probably want to use horseradish cream, wasabi, or another type of mustard.

Using replacements or alternatives for ingredients is part of the fun and experimentation that goes with home cooking. You might be pleasantly surprised with your result! Or, you might choose to never make it that way again and always make sure you keep your kitchen fully stocked!

Whichever substitute you use, we hope you enjoy your final dish and maybe you’ve just discovered a new way to make your favorite foods!