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Kasundi – Fermented Mustard Paste

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Earthen pot containing kasundi sauce

If you love wasabi, you are going to fall in love with Kasundi – the fermented mustard sauce from West Bengal. There is mustard and there is Dijon mustard and then there is Kasundi. The stuff of fables.

Don’t take my word for it. You have to either source some of it or make your own. Pungent, aromatic, spicy – just the type of stuff to awaken the senses. If you are not into spicy and pungent stuff, fret not. There are ways to tame down the pungency of this mustard relish.

Brown mustard seeds in an earthen vase

Kasundi is a traditional Bengali condiment. This fermented, piquant, fiery mustard relish is not for the faint of the heart. The classic Kasundi is made with just 4 ingredients – mustard seeds, green chilies, water and salt. A probiotic condiment that is good and good for you.

As with most of the food in India, there is a season to make Kasundi and that season is the spring. The mustard harvested around spring is sought after for making this relish. As with any fermentation, time and temperature play a significant role in the making of kasundi. Spring in parts of India is usually warm but not hot. And in some variations of kasundi, unripe green mangoes are added to balance the taste and make Aam Kasundi ( green mango kasundi) and these green mangoes are available only in spring.

Paste of brown and yellow mustard for kasundi sauce

The mustard seeds, chillies, salt and water are ground into a paste and then it is left to ferment in an earthen pot (which works just like a fermentation crock). A few days in the earthenware pot, gives it the pungency it needs and also makes a simple mustard paste into a probiotic condiment.

There are some variations of Kasundi in which turmeric is added for color, but I wanted to start with the most traditional method. Some variations add spices like cumin, raduni (celery seeds), cloves, cardamom etc and an addition of vinegar too in some cases.

Traditionally served with fresh sautéed greens and anything fried, there are so many delicious ways to use up this wonderfully mind-blowing relish.

NOTES:- I use sauerkraut juice in this recipe. While it’s not a traditional method, I feel this helps jumpstart the fermentation. If you do not have the sauerkraut juice ( the liquid in your sauerkraut), just add equivalent amount of water.

4.8 from 5 votes
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Kasundi – Fermented Mustard Sauce

A unique mustard relish that is close to wasabi. Pungent and fiery.

Course Condiments
Cuisine Indian
Keyword Condiment, Kasundi
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c brown mustard seeds (100 gms)
  • 1/4 c yellow mustard seeds (50 gms)
  • 4 Thai green chillies (or according to taste)
  • 1/4 c sauerkraut juice optional
  • 1 c water
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 c mustard oil (or avocado oil /extra virgin olive oil)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the mustard seeds and drain

  2. Add mustard, green chilies and salt into a blender jar and blend until coarsely ground

  3. Add in the sauerkraut juice and the water and blend until smooth. (This can be as smooth as you like or you could leave it a bit coarse like I have)

  4. Place in a clean glass jar with a loosely fitted lid

  5. Place the jar in a warm/sunny spot in the house for at least 3 days

  6. After 3 days, pour the oil on top of the Kasundi and mix it in with a clean and dry silicone spatula.

  7. Place in the refrigerator for storage.

Recipe Notes

NOTES:- I use sauerkraut juice in this recipe. While it’s not a traditional method, I feel this helps jumpstart the fermentation. If you do not have the sauerkraut juice ( the liquid in your sauerkraut), just add equivalent amount of water.

Progressive Eats

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month’s theme is about making homemade condiments, and our host is Lauren who blogs at Healthy Delicious.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats it’s a virtual party. The host for the month chooses the theme and members share recipes on that theme suitable for a delicious meal or party (or, in this case, the condiments that make those meals special!). Then you can hop from blog to blog to check them out. So come along and see all of the delicious and inspired dishes!

Homemade Condiments

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Comments 15

  1. How long should it keep in the fridge? Also if I’d like to add some apple cider vinegar how would that go for measurements? Thank you!

  2. 4 stars
    Thank you for this beautiful recipe. A wonderful addition to my fermented foods. I was wondering whether store bought sauerkraut will have any living bacterial culture given that most all foods are heat sterilized. I will use some of my home fermented kimchi brine. It would be good to know if sauerkraut juice can be used in a pinch. Thank you.

  3. I have wanted to make my own mustard for years now! And this fermented version looks fantastic. Saving!!! thanks for sharing this with us.

  4. Yes it’s great…to beat the pungent flavour use lemon juice to that make it real smoothie…usually marketed one are out balanced of with pungent…so just use lemon juice & enjoy…

  5. 5 stars
    I mentioned to someone earlier…was that you…that you would have to Americanize a version for me. 🙂

    I LOVE mustard so thinking it’s the green pepper that you include that makes it hot? Could I vary that for my more sensitive but not entirely wuss tastes? Like use Hatch?

    I would love to try it…need some help!

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Barb,
      Yes you can totally not use the chilies, and you can add garlic. Also adding vinegar after the fermentation would help balance it a bit more. There is another traditional version called Aam Kasundi. After the fermentation, green mango pulp is added to the sauce to give it a sour flavor and make it milder.

      but even without the chiles- this is like wasabi !

    1. Post
      Author
  6. 5 stars
    I have wanted to make my own mustard for years now! And this fermented version looks fantastic. Saving!!!

    1. Post
      Author
    1. Post
      Author

      The addition of chilies is done to cut out the bitterness in the mustard and it’s pungency. That’s why it is ground with the chiles first. it adds a different kind of heat. a layered one!

    1. Post
      Author

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