Okay, here’s my attempt at sharing my experience with white mustard seeds, blog-style:
My Adventures with White Mustard Seeds: More Than Just a Hot Dog Topping!
Alright folks, so you know I’m always messing around in the kitchen and trying new things. This time, I got super interested in white mustard seeds. I’d seen them in the store a million times, usually near the yellow mustard, and always just thought of them as, well, for making mustard. But then I started reading about some other supposed benefits, and I figured, why not give ’em a shot?
So, first things first, I bought a bag. I mean, a pretty big bag ’cause you never know when you’ll need a whole bunch of mustard seeds, right?
The initial plan was simple: sprout ’em. I remember reading somewhere that mustard sprouts are actually pretty good in salads and sandwiches, kinda like a peppery radish.
Sprouting Experiment: Fail (Mostly)
I grabbed a mason jar, tossed in a couple tablespoons of the seeds, covered it with some cheesecloth, and let it soak overnight. The next morning, I drained the water and started rinsing and draining them twice a day.
Now, here’s where things went a little sideways. They did sprout. Little tails popped out and everything. But, they also got kinda… gross. Slimy, a little moldy looking, and they smelled not great. I think I probably didn’t rinse them thoroughly enough.
So, that batch went straight into the compost bin. Lesson learned: sprouting isn’t as easy as the internet makes it seem. I might try again sometime, but I needed a win, so I moved on.
Mustard Plaster Time!
Okay, so I’d also been reading about mustard plasters for coughs and congestion. I’ve had a bit of a sniffle lately, and I’m not one for taking a ton of medicine if I don’t have to, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.
I grabbed a few tablespoons of the white mustard seeds and ground them up in my spice grinder. Then, I mixed them with some warm water to make a paste. It smelled pretty strong – definitely mustardy!
I spread the paste onto a thin cloth, folded it over, and then put it on my chest. Word of warning: this gets HOT! I only left it on for about 10 minutes because it started to burn a little. Make sure you put a layer of cloth between the mustard and your skin, or you’ll regret it.
After taking it off, my chest was definitely red, but I swear, it actually helped clear up my congestion! Maybe it was placebo, maybe it was the mustard, but either way, I felt a bit better. I wouldn’t do it all the time but it was worth a try.
Pickling Power!
Finally, I decided to use some of the mustard seeds for what I originally intended: pickling! I love making homemade pickles, and I usually just throw in whatever spices I have on hand.
This time, I added a generous tablespoon of white mustard seeds to my pickling brine, along with some dill, garlic, peppercorns, and a little bit of red pepper flakes.
The pickles turned out great! The mustard seeds added a nice, subtle heat and a bit of a crunchy texture. Definitely a keeper.
The Verdict?
So, yeah, my experience with white mustard seeds has been a bit of a mixed bag. The sprouting experiment was a bust, the mustard plaster was intense but potentially helpful, and the pickling was a success.
Would I buy them again? Absolutely. They’re cheap, versatile, and even if I only use them for pickling and the occasional experiment, they’re worth having around. Plus, I still have a whole bag to get through! Maybe I’ll try making my own mustard next time… Stay tuned!
