Homemade Dijon-Style Mustard Recipe with Juniper Berries

Spoonful of hot mustard powder
Rachel Husband/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Rest: 720 hrs
Total: 720 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 32 servings
Yield: 2 cups

Dijon mustard is the tangy mustard sauce that originated in the Dijon region of France in 1856. But you don't have to be French to whip up your own homemade Dijon-style mustard. Of the many varieties of mustards available, the distinct ingredient in the original Dijon mustards was verjuice, an acidic juice made of pressed unripe grapes. Today, most Dijon-style mustards use white wine in place of the traditional verjuice.

In this Dijon-style mustard recipe, hot mustard powder paste is cooked and infused with onions, shallots, garlic, and of course, dry white wine. What really takes this recipe up a notch is the use of juniper berries and lemon juice. It's not difficult to make your own homemade Dijon-style mustard at home, and since it lasts for up 6 months, we doubt you'll go back to old store-bought brands.

This recipe is inspired by Sara Moulton's recipe from Sara Moulton Cooks at Home.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup hot mustard powder

  • 1/4 cup very cold water

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar

  • 1 cup dry white wine

  • 1/2 cup minced yellow onion

  • 1/4 cup minced shallot

  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

  • 4 whole juniper berries

  • 2 tablespoons cold lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a bowl stir together mustard powder and water to make a paste. Set aside.

  3. In a saucepan combine vinegar, wine, onion, shallots, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, and juniper berries and bring mixture to a simmer over moderate heat. Simmer mixture until reduced by two-thirds. Then strain mixture, cover and chill.

  4. Stir the chilled vinegar reduction into the mustard paste. Add the lemon juice, salt, and sugar and stir to combine. Let mixture stand for at least 20 minutes.

  5. Transfer the mustard mixture to a saucepan, bring to a simmer over low heat and cook for 15 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow to cool.

  6. Transfer to a sterile jar and seal tightly. Store sealed mustard on a dark, cool shelf for at least a month or up to 6 weeks to allow flavors to infuse before using.

Tips

  • Your homemade Dijon-style mustard will mellow with age. Mustard should be refrigerated once open and will keep for 6 months.
  • When it comes to finding a dry white wine for this recipe, you can use whatever you have on hand. We like to use crisp white wines like a Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or an unoaked chardonnay. Pinot grigios tend to be the most natural of these three types, but they all work beautifully.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
25 Calories
1g Fat
2g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories 25
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 80mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 45mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)