Black Mustard

Black mustard (Brassica nigra) is a tall, fast-growing annual whose small dark seeds carry a sharp, pungent heat considerably stronger than the more common yellow mustard seed. It's a staple spice across Indian cooking, where whole seeds are often popped in hot oil to release their flavor.

Growing Black Mustard

Black mustard is quick and easy from direct-sown seed, growing tall with cheerful yellow flowers before setting the seed pods that hold the spice. It self-seeds readily once established and can become weedy if pods are left to shatter unchecked, so harvest before pods fully dry and split if you'd rather it not spread on its own.

Culinary Uses

Whole black mustard seeds are traditionally fried briefly in hot oil until they pop, a technique called tempering that mellows their sharpness while releasing a nutty, aromatic flavor used to start many Indian dals and curries. Ground, the seeds are also a key ingredient in some prepared mustards and pickling spice blends.