Pickled Mustard Seeds, the BBQ Caviar (2024)

March 8, 2020September 28, 2023

Pop into a bite of these Pickled Mustard Seeds anytime you want a burst of flavor for your grilled meats and veggies. These vibrant seeds are a perfect way to elevate your seasoning with very little effort.

No, they aren’t caviar, though I treat them just like it. These pickled mustard seeds are the special touch that pairs perfectly on top of meats such as Coffee-Crusted Ribeye, Smoked Pastrami Steak, and even Smoked Pulled Ham. Try adding them to pasta salads, deviled eggs, or even vinaigrettes.

These BELONG on Smoked Brats with Spicy Beer Onions, and Smoked Brat Burgers!

Why You’ll Love Pickled Mustard Seeds

• The experience. Each bite does pop in your mouth, creating a wonderful texture. They are not slimy like caviar, and also not very hard.
• Flavor packing. The pickled seeds soak up all of the flavors added to the brine. Treat them like a finishing salt, seasoning the food at the very end.
• Simple to prepare. Other than waiting, there’s almost nothing to do. The mustard seeds pickle in an hour, and you simply heat up the ingredients on the stove for a few minutes.
• Flexibility. Use them on anything you’d think about where you’d either want a touch of Dijon flavor, acid, or salt. They are a perfect pop of brightness to almost any dish.

How to Prepare Pickled Mustard Seeds

This process is pretty straightforward, and thankfully it doesn’t take too much time. The main ingredient you’ll need to purchase is yellow mustard seeds, which you can easily buy online right here.

• STEP 1: Rinse the seeds. Trust me, they are probably dusty. Place them in a fine mesh sieve and give them a good rinse with cold water to get rid of any contaminants.

• STEP 2: Soak the seeds. Place them in a medium saucepot, the one you’re going to use to warm up the seeds later. Pour in the white wine vinegar and stir them around gently to make sure they are submerged. Let them sit for about an hour at room temperature.

• STEP 3: Warm the brine. Add in the rest of the ingredients for the brine and bring the pan to a low simmer. Stir the seeds to make sure everything mixes well, especially the honey. After about 6-7 minutes the liquid will start to evaporate and absorb. Once most of the liquid is gone, turn off the heat.

• STEP 4: Cool and season. Place the seeds into a container to cool, and stir in the rest of the vinegar along with the shallots. Mix them around and taste the mustard to see if it needs any additional salt or spices.

At this point you can store the pickled mustard seeds in the fridge once they have cooled off. They will stay fresh up to 2 weeks, if you don’t eat them all first. The flavors will continue to develop overnight.

How to Use Pickled Mustard Seeds

Their acidity brightens just about food, so it’s pretty easy to use.

Fatty foods – The acidic flavors act like a finishing salt, a bright punch to cut through the fatty flavors of grilled meats such as steak, or slowly smoked barbecue. They taste great on top of creamy eggs, or even folded into a tuna salad.

Dressings, dips, and vinaigrettes – Anything that could be seasoned with mustard, could be a fun replacement. The textures really lift the eating experience, especially with salads. Bright bites of pickled mustard seeds pair well with the bitter flavors of dark leafy greens and other raw vegetables.

Charcuterie board – Set a small bowl of these seeds on a platter filled with cured meats, fresh veggies, and salty cheeses. All you need is a spoon, maybe a few crackers, and you have one of the best condiments you could find.

Variations to Customize Flavors

Vinegar – White wine vinegar is traditional, but feel free to swap it out for other flavors. Apple cider vinegar is strong but very tangy. Rice wine vinegar is one of my favorite substitutions, adding a nice sweet profile. Avoid distilled white vinegar as it’s extremely acidic and takes away from the natural flavors of the mustard.

Bourbon – Add a splash of your favorite bourbon at the end for a boozy version, perfect for a topping on hotdogs, brats, and grilled steak.

Sugar – This recipe uses honey, but you can swap it out with a variety of sweeteners. Agave is my favorite substitution, along with the addition of roasted green chiles.

Chiles – Fresh or pickled chiles, such as Smoked Pickled Jalapenos are a fun additional flavor. Freshly roasted poblanos or Hatch chiles taste incredible paired with the pickled seeds.
Aromatics – Shallots are used in this recipe, but you could swap them out for other types of onions such as scallions, chives, or even minced red onion. Try grilling a shallot and mincing it for a nice toasty flavor.

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