Mike's Recipes

Mike’s Homemade Hot Honey Mustard Recipe

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp mustard (we prefer dijon)
  • 1 tbsp Mike's Hot Honey
  • 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, salt
Instructions

Wisk together all ingredients and salt to taste.



Honey mustard is a deliciously versatile condiment that is perennially popular. It combines the delectable sweetness of honey with the tang of mustard for a flavor that pairs well with a wide range of proteins, either as a spread or a dipping sauce. Feel free to customize the classic honey mustard recipe as you like, just like we do here with the addition of Mike's Hot Honey to add a spicy kick. There are so many ways you can use this sauce besides those we describe here, so get ready to get creative in the kitchen.

Read on to learn more about honey mustard, what to pair it with, and how you can make it at home in just a few minutes.

Difference Between Honey Mustard and Honey Mustard Dressing

While honey mustard and honey mustard dressing both feature the same primary ingredients, namely honey and mustard, the two are not exactly the same. The key distinction is that honey mustard, when used as a sauce or spread, typically has a mayonnaise base, while honey mustard dressing for salads is made with an oil base. The end result is a much thicker sauce for coating food or spreading on bread and a thinner dressing that is ideal for pouring. Also, the sauce tends to have a stronger, more robust flavor, as it's not as diluted by the oil.

Because the sauce and dressing are so similar, you can almost use them interchangeably. As a rule of thumb, if you want a lighter dish in terms of taste and mouthfeel, the dressing is probably the way to go. However, if you're looking to pack in more flavor and depth in your dish, the thicker sauce will better serve your needs.

Variations

There are so many ways you can customize this deceptively simple recipe to suit your taste. For example, you can play around with different seasonings and spices to complement those that you are using for your main dish. For Asian-style dishes, you could add some sriracha or wasabi, or for Mexican flair, try adding chili powder or fresh cilantro. Look for flavor combinations that both complement and contrast each other so that everything doesn't taste overly homogeneous.

You also have the option of changing the amounts of various ingredients, like adding extra honey for more sweetness or upping the mustard for more zing. Don't feel the need to be locked into specific measurements of anything. The ultimate goal is to create a sauce that you love, so don't be shy about experimenting until you get it just right. What tastes best to you may not be the same as for someone else, so trust your instincts to create the sauce that is best for what you like.

How to Serve

The beauty of honey mustard sauce is in its versatility. Try drizzling it over roasted vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, honey squash, or mixed veggie skewers. You could even stick the veggies under the broiler with the sauce on them to get it to caramelize a bit. Honey mustard is also a great dipping sauce for chicken wings or crudities. Serve on the side or spread over the top of spatchcocked chickenhoney glazed salmon, or hot honey shrimp. Slather some on your bun or bread for a burger, honey hot dog, or sandwich, too.

Honey mustard is also great as an add-in for other recipes. Mix some into a potato salad or pasta salad to give it a kick, or toss with our amazing orzo salad. You can even use it for green salads like you would a traditional salad dressing. With so many options available to you, you can have this delicious sauce as often as you like.

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

As with most dishes, this sauce is best when made fresh, but you can absolutely make it ahead of time if needed. After mixing all of the ingredients, store the sauce in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep for up to a month. Before serving, be sure to mix the sauce thoroughly to ensure the ingredients haven't separated during storage. Taste and adjust any ingredients or seasonings as needed.

If possible, give the sauce time to come closer to room temperature before serving if you'll be having it with a hot dish. For a cold dish like raw vegetables, you may prefer to keep the sauce in the fridge right up until serving time. If you have let the sauce warm up, discard any unused sauce after you have finished eating.

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