Mustard oil

[mark111757 Profile]

Found this in the current se7en. From saira Hamilton recipe for aloo Bortha

IMG_20190309_154337_237.JPG (58.89 KiB) Viewed 5576 times

[Stokey Sue Profile]

To be honest I doubt that will make much difference

You can buy mustard oil easily enough in the UK, it’s labelled “for external use only” but widely used in cooking

I’ve tried it, to me there’s a noticeable difference in the smell when you are cooking but very little in the flavour of most foods, it’s not in fact very mustardy

Mustard is closely related to oilseed rape (colza), not that much different

[Sakkarin Profile]

(You beat me to it Sue, but I can't be bother to edit it...)

I love mustard oil, an important ingredient in my favourite Tikka recipe, and it "indianises" salads together with a sprinkling of chat masala, however it is rather offputting that to sell it here they have to mark it "for external use only". The article below seems to suggest it is is OK for adults in the weeny proportions you'd use for recipes.

However "blended" oils miss the mark for me. One example you get in supermarkets is "blended sesame oil", which is only 50% sesame. Spend a little more and get proper sesame oil.

On the blended front, in Tesco at the moment they have a special deal on what pretends to be "Clarks original maple syrup", but is in fact blended with carob. It's absolutely no substitute for real maple syrup. I bought some once thinking it was proper maple syrup. It's not. Be warned...

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/161109

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Yes, I was intrigued enough to buy some, and ended up using it on my hair for some shine.
I've gone back to having indestructible ghee in my fridge for those Indian cooking moments. That lasts in there for ever.

Thanks for the authenticity warning with other items, Sakks.

[mark111757 Profile]

For what it is worth, the afforementioned recipe calls for 2 tsp of the oil.

Maybe worth a try

Found on Amazon, 5L jug of it for $38.99

[karadekoolaid Profile]

I buy pure mustard oil from ishopindian.com in the States. It´s marked " for external use only", but I completely ignore that, in the knowledge that millions of Indian residents use it to cook every single day.
It´s wonderful stuff. Try stir-frying some spinach, or spring greens in the oil, with plenty of garlic and fresh green chiles.

[Joanbunting Profile]

I've used it in the UK but never set eyes on it here - like many "exotic" ingredients, including Thai basil!! Indeed I couldn't find mustard seeds for ages when I wanted to make pickle.

[jeral Profile]

I can't say I'd want to pay nearly $40 for 5L for the sake of two teasponsful.

karadekoolaid and Sakkarin - as you are familiar with mustard oil, could you suggest a substitute?

Wondering if infusing toasted mustard seeds might do if only a tiny spot is needed?

[karadekoolaid Profile]

There is no substitute, Jeral. Just like there`s no substitute for anchovies, or sesame seed oil.
Get in touch with www.redrickshaw.com - they´ve got mustard oil as cheap as 1.99.

[Pampy Profile]

Wondering if infusing toasted mustard seeds might do if only a tiny spot is needed?

The original post by Mark shows a way to make a substitute - whether or not it's any good, I don't know.

[Renee Profile]

I would think that it would work well Pampy.

This looks an interesting read about erucic acid, which is also in rapeseed oil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erucic_acid

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Interesting read, yes, Renee.

I tend to want to believe the healthy benefits - but want to disbelieve the dangers.
If something is particularly detrimental to the heart, I'll avoid them however.
Although cholesterol claims I'll ignore - as it's not a problem area for me.

Heart issues are sadly in the family.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

Erucic acid has only been shown to cause fatty infiltration of heart tissue in rats

The amount of it consumed by anyone who only uses imustard oil occasionally would probably be irrelevant

I don’t bother, tried it, was unimpressed, don’t need to keep yet another bottle in the cupboard; my one off experience was that it went off quite rapidly once opened

[Sakkarin Profile]

I agree with KK, there's not really a substitute, but the recipes that I do that use them would work fine with any oil, you just don't get the full authentic effect the recipe intended (which for me with some ingredients makes all the difference).

The same would apply to black salt - an indian-style salad which included sulphurous black salt and mustard oil in the dressing could be made with olive oil/ordinary salt, but would miss that essential kick.