Apples Are The Secret Ingredient For A Perfectly Balanced Mustard Sauce
Fall mustard recipes are made primarily from powdered mustard seeds, vinegar, and spices. The type of seed determines the heat, the spices determine the flavor, and the vinegar gives it that acidic taste while also preserving the heat level of the seed. Although some people love the pungent burn of mustard, many prefer it as a sauce where the flavor is balanced with other elements. Honey mustard sauce, for example, is a popular choice because the sweetness of the various types of honey offset the aggressive nature of the mustard's flavor. Believe it or not, apples can do the same thing.
Apples have a balance of sweet and tart flavors. With over 100 varieties in the United States alone, you can choose whether you want overwhelmingly sweet, deliciously tart, or any flavor in between. It is this dual nature of apples that makes them so suitable in mustard sauce. At one end of the spectrum, they add a sweetness that is suitable for people who prefer mild sauces. However, at the other end, the tart bite of an apple can enhance the spicy nature of the mustard to create a completely different taste experience.
Tips for making apple mustard sauce
The best part about making apple mustard sauce is that it is super easy to do. You can make it in a matter of minutes without turning on any appliances. And you can tweak it at any point in the process, even after you have finished mixing it up.
To start, grab a few ingredients that you think might go well together, such as homemade applesauce, a pre-made mustard or two, and maybe something that enhances the overall flavor, such as honey. You will also want to have your measuring spoons on hand to know how much of each ingredient you are adding. This way, when you hit that magical combination, you'll have a firm understanding of what you did (a recipe).
As a baseline, start with equal parts applesauce and mustard. If you use three tablespoons of applesauce, mix in three tablespoons of mustard. After thoroughly blending them together, evaluate the taste. Does it need more applesauce? Would it benefit from a tablespoon of honey? This is where you tweak until you get that balance you crave.