Homemade Chinese Hot Mustard

This homemade Chinese hot mustard is bold, sharp, and easy to make with just a few pantry ingredients. If you love the fiery dipping sauce served with egg rolls, dumplings, and takeout-style appetizers, this sauce comes together in minutes and is easy to adjust to your preferred heat level.

What is Chinese Hot Mustard

The first version of Chinese mustard is thought to have originated in China as early as 1046 BCE. At that time, the brown mustard seeds were simply ground into a pastier version of what we are more accustomed to seeing in jars and packets in the United States today. 

Today, Chinese mustard is made with other ingredients as well. Vinegar, salt, and oil are mixed with the dry powder to bring out the flavor of the mustard and create its smooth consistency.

What You’ll Need

The ingredient list for this Chinese hot mustard is short. Plus, the ingredients can be found at most grocery stores. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Dry Ground Mustard Powder – Dry ground mustard is the key to making this sauce spicy and any restaurant owner will tell you that Coleman’s is the brand to use! You can use Chinese mustard powder (if you can find it) or English mustard powder (though the latter may have slightly less of a bite due to the inclusion of white mustard seeds).

Variations

You can make your own signature mustard with all sorts of tweaks to this basic recipe.

• Vinegar – Instead of rice wine vinegar, use distilled white vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar for a different flavor profile. 
• Oil – Use another neutral flavored oil like avocado or canola. Or, you can use an infused spicy oil to up the heat.
• Sweetness – For a touch of sweet flavor to complement the spiciness, mix in a little bit of honey. Or, instead of honey, use your favorite alternative sweetener.
• Garlic – Make a garlicky version by whisking in some garlic powder or minced garlic. 
• Ginger – Create a unique flavor by adding grated ginger to the mustard. 
• Five-Spice – Add a five-spice blend for a complex flavor profile.  

What To Serve Chinese Hot Mustard With

Chinese hot mustard is a great dipping sauce for traditional egg rolls (or a German take on egg rolls), vegetable spring rolls, fried shrimp, dumplings, and crab rangoons. It can also add a spicy tangy flavor to any number of homemade versions of your favorite Chinese takeout.  

You can also use it like any other mustard, slathered on slider sandwiches, griddle smash burgers, and bratwurst. Or you can serve it with appetizers like sausage balls or alongside cheese and meat flowers on a charcuterie board.

​And in addition to all of those options, you can also use it to make a sauce. Mix it with soy sauce or duck sauce for a unique condiment for dipping or thin it out and add other spices for a different type of salad dressing.

How to Make Chinese Hot Mustard (Step-by-Step)

It couldn’t be easier to make this spicy mustard. 

1. Whisk mustard and salt. Add the mustard and salt to a small bowl. Then, whisk the two ingredients together.
2. Add water and stir. After the mustard and salt are combined, pour in the water and stir.
3. Add vinegar and oil. Next, add the vinegar and the oil and whisk once again.
4. Allow to steep. When the ingredients are fully combined, use plastic wrap or aluminum foil to cover the bowl and set aside.
5. Whisk and serve. Once the mixture has had time to steep, uncover the bowl and whisk again. Serve immediately or refrigerate. 

Common Questions About Chinese Hot Mustard

Other Savory Sauces

Sauces is the name of our game here- here are a few more popular dipping sauces.

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Chinese Garlic Sauce (Brown Stir Fry Sauce)

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Chinese Hot Mustard Recipe

This EASY Chinese Hot Mustard recipe, with its signature kick of horseradish-like spiciness, is incredibly easy to make and enjoy at home!

4.89 from 17 votes

Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: chinese hot mustard

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Steep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 0.5 cup

Calories: 34kcal

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dry ground mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

Instructions

• In a small bowl, whisk together the 1/2 cup dry ground mustard powder and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt. Add the 1/4 cup water, mixing to combine.
• Whisk in the 2 teaspoons vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar.
• Cover and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes before whisking again and serving.
• For a thinner sauce, add more water, for a thicker sauce, add less.
• If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

Storage: Store leftover Chinese hot mustard in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. 

Freezing: While you can freeze mustard, the condiment’s taste and consistency may change. If you choose to freeze it, you can place it in a freezer bag or ice cube tray for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 34kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 49mg, Potassium: 38mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.4g, Vitamin A: 2IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 0.5mg