French mustard. English mustard. Japanese mustard. American mustard. Is there a Canadian mustard?
by Mary Bailey
We can thank the Romans for so many things, including mustard. They mixed must (unfermented grape juice) with ground mustard seeds to make mustum ardens—burning must. They used it as a condiment, preserved fruit in it (mostarda) and served it with sausage.
People either love mustard or they don’t, due to its effect on the nasal passages. While you may shudder at a spoonful of mustard, who wouldn’t miss the tang it brings to potato salad, or the depth of flavour to a grilled cheese or creaminess to a vinaigrette.
Mustard is a brassica, related to canola—you may have some wild mustard amongst your weeds—and particularly suited to our Prairie climate (sunny, dry, short growing season). So much so that the sunny yellow of mustard and canola against the bright blue sky are the colours of Alberta.
Over 90 per cent of the world’s mustard is grown in the Prairies. Especially Saskatchewan, which grows a whopping 73 per cent of all mustard in Canada, according to the Canadian Grain Commission. Maille Dijon, for example, contains 60 per cent Canadian mustard seeds. It’s a relatively youthful crop for Alberta, though, with the first 40 hectares planted near Lethbridge in 1936, according to Western Farm Express.
England is known for hot mustards; Germany for both sweet (Bavaria) and hot (Düsseldorf ) styles; France for Dijon (a medium-strength mustard originally made with verjus, similar to the Romans, now made with white wine). Irish mustard generally has whisky or stout in it and karashi is a spicy Japanese mustard.
The bright yellow French’s many grew up with is known as American, or ballpark mustard (except in Cleveland, where ballpark mustard is brown, according to Eater). Ball park mustard’s mild flavour and creamy consistency is especially good on, you guessed it, a hot dog. It contains turmeric to bolster the bright yellow colour.
French mustard. English mustard. Japanese mustard. American mustard.
I ask you this. Why isn’t there a Canadian mustard? Is it because we are a country of immigrants, each bringing different cooking styles and traditions to the mix? Let’s hope so.
There may not be a definitive Canadian mustard style, but there are several smallish Canadian companies making delicious mustards.
Brassica Mustard, the grandaddy of Alberta mustards, was started in Calgary in 1995 by Karen Davis and Desmond Johnston. Karen has talked about the early days, trying to buy mustard seed from the wholesaler and being told they had to buy a train car full. They persevered, creating a beloved grainy mustard. Eric Geisbrecht of Meta-4Foods bought Brassica in 2019. He specializes in sales to chefs and brings out several limited editions every year.
“I like using mustard where you might not expect it,” says Eric; “like on pizza. I made one with smoked duck breast and mustard recently. Also in fondue, it’s delicious.”
You wouldn’t expect a chef who works with Iberian flavours to have much use for mustard. You would be wrong.
“We use Brassica mustard with our charcuterie, with Spanish sausage, in sauces,” says Lino Oliveira, chef and co-owner of Sabor and La Bodega. “We make a honey mustard mayo dip for the croquettes with Brassica. I often buy the limited editions in big buckets, like the puttanesca—it was fiery. I like the small seeds, their whole grain is quite mild and the cranberry mustard with the sausage is subtle. And we sold Brassica mustards in the shop.
“We make a maple mustard,” says chef Josh Wilhelm, Toast Culture. “We soak seeds overnight in apple cider vinegar. We add caramelized shallots, chilies, maple syrup and use it in the aioli for the Rueben sandwich.”
Apple and Mustard Slaw
Chef Josh Wilhelm, Toast Culture
Grainy Mustard and Maple Dressing
| ¾ c | apple cider vinegar |
| 2 T | lemon juice |
| 2 T | salt |
| 1 T | pepper |
| 1 T | dry parsley |
| 1 T | dry oregano |
| 1 T | smooth Dijon mustard |
| 3 T | grainy mustard (we use our house made maple mustard) |
| 3 T | maple syrup |
| 1 c | olive oil |
| 1½ c | canola oil |
Combine all ingredients except the oils in a mixing bowl or blender. Gradually mix in the oils allowing the mixture to emulsify. Cool and store in the fridge for up to 14 days.
Makes about 1L.
Slaw
| 3 c | sliced green cabbage |
| 1 c | sliced red cabbage |
| 1 c | shredded carrots |
| 2 | Gala apples, sliced (skin on) |
| ¼ c | sliced green onions |
| ¼ c | pickled onions (or raw red onions) |
| ¾ c | grainy mustard and maple dressing |
Toss the dressing with the sliced vegetables and apples.
Meuwly’s Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
| 60 mL | Meuwly’s Honey Cider Mustard |
| 30 mL | liquid honey |
| 60 mL | apple cider vinegar |
| 60 mL | olive oil |
| zest of 1 orange | |
| salt to taste |
Shake everything together in a mason jar. For a fresh citrus flavour, add the juice from the orange after zesting.
Makes about 1 cup.
Old School Mustard Honey Glaze for Ham
| 1 | (10-pound) smoked ham with rind, preferably shank end |
| 1 c | unsweetened apple juice or apple cider |
| ½ c | grainy mustard |
| 2/3 c | golden brown sugar (packed) |
| ¼ c | honey |
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Place the ham in large roasting pan. Pour apple juice over and cover ham completely with parchment paper, then cover ham and roasting pan with heavy-duty foil, sealing tightly. Bake the ham until the center of the ham registers 145°F, about 3 hours 45 minutes. Remove ham from oven. Increase oven temperature to 375°F.
Remove foil and parchment from ham. Drain and discard liquids from roasting pan. Cut off rind and all but ¼-inch-thick layer of fat from ham and discard. Using a long sharp knife, score the fat in 1-inch-wide, ¼-inch-deep diamond pattern. Spread mustard evenly over the fat layer. Pat the brown sugar over the mustard pressing firmly to adhere. Drizzle honey over. Bake until ham until well glazed, spooning any glaze from the roasting pan back over ham, about 30 minutes. Transfer ham to serving platter; let cool at least 45 minutes. Slice ham and serve warm or at room temperature.
Serves 6-8 with leftovers.
Winter Vegetable Stacks with Lentils and Horseradish Maple Vinaigrette
Adapted from a recipe found on kozliks.com.
Horseradish Maple Vinaigrette
| ¼ c | apple cider vinegar |
| splash water | |
| 1 t | Kozlik’s Horseradish mustard |
| 1½ T | maple syrup |
| salt and pepper | |
| 1/3 c | grapeseed or olive oil |
Combine all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a blender and blend on medium-high until mixture is creamy and incorporated. Check for seasoning, adjust to your liking and set aside.
Vegetable Stacks
| 2 sprigs | rosemary, leaves removed, chopped |
| juice of 1 lemon | |
| 3 T | grapeseed oil |
| 1 sm | celery root, peeled |
| 1 | fat sweet potato, peeled |
| 1 lg | beet, peeled |
| 1 head | cauliflower, trimmed |
Lentils
| 2 t | grapeseed oil |
| 1 | shallot, diced fine |
| ½ c | lentils (rinsed) |
| 1 c | water, extra if needed |
| salt to taste |
Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Line 2 medium-large baking sheets with parchment and 1 smaller baking sheet. Set aside. Combine the rosemary, lemon juice and oil in a small bowl. Set aside. Slice the celery root and sweet potato about an inch thick across. You want to cut them so that you get a large cross section for stacking. Lay the slices on one of the medium-large baking sheets. Brush both sides of all vegetables with the lemon oil, season and slide baking sheet into the oven. These should take about 35-40 minutes to brown and soften. Reserve.
Slice the beets about ¼-½-inch thick. Lay the slices on the smaller sheet. Brush with the lemon oil mixture and season. Cover baking sheet with foil and place in the oven. Slide baking sheet into the oven. Roast for 20 minutes covered. Remove the foil and roast for another 10-15 minutes. Reserve.
Slice the cauliflower into 1-inch thick cross sections with the core intact. Lay the slices on the last baking sheet and brush with the lemon oil on both sides. Season and slide into the oven. The cauliflower should take about 20-25 minutes. Reserve.
While the vegetables are roasting, start the lentils. Heat oil over medium heat and add the shallots. Stir until translucent and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the lentils to the pan and stir in the oil and shallots. Add the water to the pan. Bring lentils to a slow simmer. Cook until the lentils are soft but with some bite still, topping up with more water as necessary, about 25-30 minutes. Season lentils and stir in a glug of olive oil to keep the lentils individual. Reserve.
To serve, divide the warm lentils between 2 dinner plates, pressing down on them with the back of a spoon to make a flat surface. Stack the roasted vegetables on top of the flattened lentils. Drizzle all with the horseradish vinaigrette. Garnish with olives and chopped parsley.
Serve warm.
Serves 2.
Mustard and Cheese-stuffed Chicken Breasts
Adapted from BBC Good Food
| 125 g | ball mozzarella, torn into small pieces |
| 50 g | aged cheddar, grated |
| 1 T | whole grain mustard |
| 4 | skinless boneless chicken breasts (or thighs) |
| 8 slices | bacon (we rec. Irving’s) |
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Mix the cheeses and mustard together. Cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast, then stuff with the mustard mixture. Wrap each stuffed chicken breast with 2 bacon rashers—not too tightly, but enough to hold the chicken together. Season, place on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 mins.
Notable Canadian Mustards
Brassica Mustard is available at Sabor, Sunterra Lendrum, Mona Foods and Meta-4Foods, meta4foods.com.
Caplansky’s “These Toronto mustards are classic deli style; a smoked meat sandwich is a great first choice. I would serve their Apple Dijon with a roasted pork chop and Brussels sprouts!” –Peter Keith, Meulwy’s.
Chicks N Chaps Mustards developed from an agritourism workshop. Find the Kickin Honey, Grainy Beer and a hot mustard at Widynowski Sausage House, Edmonton, Roundabouts in South Cooking Lake and GoodGoodsCo online shop, goodgoodsco.ca.
Cian’s Mustard is made in Strathmore and can be found at Real Deal Meats, Butcher Block & Smoke House, Sherwood Park and the Grapevine Deli in St Albert.
Gravelbourg Mustard from Saskatchewan is available at the Co-op on Lessard Road.
Kozlicks Canadian Mustard, made in Toronto since 1948. Find at the Italian Centre Shops.
Meuwly’s House-made Mustards, Meuwly’s makes several mustards including a Honey Cider, Miso Maple and Cranberry.
Smak Dab Mustards, Manitoba. “Smak Dab’s mustards have a great texture and consistency for dipping. The founder, Carly, is a graduate of NAIT’s culinary program, and you can see that depth of culinary training in the creative flavours. This line of mustard is one of our best-selling products at Meuwly’s. The Hot Honey Jalapeno with our smokies is delicious. ” –Peter Keith, Meuwly’s.
