Desperately in need of a last-minute horseradish substitute? These best six ingredient alternatives will get you out of trouble.
Horseradish is a popular ingredient in many hors d’oeuvres and sauces. With an unmistakable flavor, horseradish sauce is a great condiment to have on hand for an unexpected guest.
Unfortunately, horseradish can be difficult to find in certain areas of the country or world. This article will explore 6 alternatives that are similar in taste and appearance as well as some tips for how to substitute horseradish with each one!
Wasabi Paste
This is a green root vegetable from Japan, and as such, the stem grows underground. It is made from the stem of the wasabi plant, which is also known as rhizoma. The root has to be peeled and then grated to get the real deal. To do this, you will need a special ceramic grater.
Often, wasabi is used as a substitute for horseradish because the two are very similar in taste. Wasabi is a type of horseradish. This is why it makes a great substitute. However, because one is a variant, make sure that you do not use wasabi if you have allergies to horseradish. Wasabi is one of the best substitutes for horseradish.
Wasabi paste is rarely made of pure wasabi. It is often a mixture of different ingredients, such as horseradish, and green food coloring, and a bit of wasabi. The main reason for this is that wasabi is pricey in its purest form. However, wasabi is milder in taste in comparison to horseradish. As such, you will need to use more wasabi in a recipe that calls for horseradish. You can also use wasabi in a Bloody Mary to deliver a spicy kick.
One tablespoon of wasabi will make four cocktails. The spiciness of the drink can also be excited by grating in ginger because wasabi’s taste tends to fade away. In recipes, use one and a half measures of wasabi, as you would need horseradish.
Brown Mustard
Horseradish is a fantastic Dijon mustard substitute, so it makes sense for it to work the other way. Mustard is made from grinding mustard seeds and then mixing those with a liquid. It is hot and spicy. The different types of mustard also differ in the intensity of hotness. For instance, Dijon mustard is not as hot as brown mustard, which is why brown makes a better substitute for horseradish. Brown mustard is made from brown mustard seeds, with the bran still left on and soaked in less vinegar than yellow mustard.
Brown mustard makes a good horseradish substitute because it is hot, intense, and also because it is spicy. The kick it delivers is similar to that which you get with horseradish. The spicy kick in brown mustard is the same compound that also gives wasabi and horseradish its spicy nature.
The other thing that makes it a good substitute is the color, which is close to horseradish. To substitute horseradish with brown mustard, use equal amounts. Brown mustard is suitable for many things, including using it in place of horseradish in prime ribs.
Fresh Ginger
Horseradish offers a kick to a dish or a drink, so the substitute needs to do the same. Ginger is a root vegetable that is known for its heat and spiciness. While it may look harmless, it packs a punch. Ginger is a rhizome with a hint of sweetness to it.
It makes a great substitute because of the heat and spiciness (although not as good as wasabi). It’s essential to understand what the recipe calls for to make sure that you are getting those properties.
Ginger has a sweet taste to it that may not augur well with some dishes. However, its heat helps it pair well with most dishes that require horseradish. Fresh ginger will also help you get warmth in your dish, with some earthy tones.
To use fresh ginger in place of horseradish, use more fresh ginger than you would use horseradish. However, there’s a delicate balance that you have to maintain. Otherwise, too much ginger may cause the dish to be more bitter than usual. You can achieve this by coming to terms that your dish will not have the same kick it would have if you used horseradish.
Black Radish
When you look at black radish, it is pretty similar to beetroot. It has dark-colored skin and even has the shape and general size of the beetroot. It is a root vegetable with white flesh on the inside that tastes to complement recipes that call for horseradish. The difference between this radish and others is that the color is darker and more prominent.
It makes a good substitute for horseradish because it has a similar pungent taste. It has a warmth and heat that is very similar to horseradish. The downside, however, is that most of the heat is in the peel and not in the white pulp.
Peeled horseradish is milder in taste. So you may need to leave parts of it on. To substitute horseradish with black radish, use equal amounts. If you need more kick, you may need to add ginger.
Spicy Hot Mustard or Mustard Seeds
A mustard seed is tiny. One can measure between 1 and 2 millimeters in diameter. You can use mustard seeds as an alternative and substitute for horseradish. The seeds, however, need to be ground before they are used. Mustard is a mixture of different mustard seeds along with a liquid.
The taste of mustard works well with different dishes, such as meat, poultry, and pork. Mustard seeds make a good substitute because they will resemble the texture of grated horseradish. They also work well in place of horseradish because they have similar levels of heat. It is also similar in color, which means it fits in well. To substitute the two, you can use equal amounts.
Horseradish Sauce
Horseradish sauce is the “gooey” version of horseradish. It is made from grating horseradish root and then combining it with vinegar. As a sauce, horseradish still packs a punch just like the root. The main difference being that one is in solid-state and the other isn’t. The sauce may differ depending on how you want it made, but one thing common across the board is that they have horseradish in them. You can either make your own or buy it.
The sauce is simply a derivative of the root. As such, you can expect the tastes to be the same. Substituting one for the other therefore makes sense. You will need to use about one and a half times the amount of horseradish sauce, as you would need to use fresh horseradish.
FAQ
What is horseradish?
It’s a root vegetable. It can either be used to add a recipe or as a condiment to add a kick to the dish.
What does horseradish taste like?
It has a pungent, hot taste. You can also describe it as hot and spicy.
What is the main ingredient in horseradish?
The main ingredient in prepared horseradish is grated horseradish root.
