Mustard is a popular condiment that many people enjoy with chicken. It comes in different varieties like yellow, spicy brown, dijon, and honey mustard. When used in chicken recipes, mustard can add flavor, moisture, and help create a delicious crust or glaze on the outside of the chicken. Understanding how mustard interacts with chicken can help you pick the right type of mustard for your recipe and get the most out of this tasty ingredient.
What are the different types of mustard?
There are several common varieties of mustard that each have their own distinctive flavor and uses with chicken:
Yellow Mustard
Yellow mustard is the mild, bright yellow condiment often found at hot dog stands and summer barbecues. It has a tangy flavor from vinegar and mustard seeds. Yellow mustard can add a pop of color and mild tanginess to chicken dishes like chicken salad sandwiches, baked chicken breasts, or grilled chicken.
Dijon Mustard
Dijon mustard originated in Dijon, France. It’s made from a blend of brown and black mustard seeds and white wine. Dijon has a zesty, pungent flavor from the mixture of mustard seeds. It works well to coat the outside of chicken before baking or grilling to help form a flavorful, crunchy crust.
Whole Grain Mustard
Whole grain mustard contains visible mustard seeds and has a coarse texture. It can range from moderate to very spicy depending on the type and brand. Whole grain mustard makes an excellent rub or marinade for chicken due to its spiciness and texture. The mustard seeds help add flavorful pops of spiciness.
Honey Mustard
Honey mustard combines sweet honey with zesty mustard. It strikes a nice balance between spicy and sweet. Honey mustard makes a tasty glaze or dipping sauce for chicken. It can help chicken stay moist while adding sweet, tangy flavor.
How does mustard add flavor to chicken?
Mustard can add several layers of flavor to chicken depending on the variety used. Here are some of the key ways it enhances flavor:
Tanginess
Most mustards contain acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice that bring out a tangy, bright flavor. Yellow mustard in particular has a mild but noticeable tart, tangy quality. The acidity cuts through the richness of chicken and enhances other seasonings.
Spiciness
Mustard gets its signature spicy flavor from the mustard seeds, which contain a compound called sinigrin. When the seeds are crushed and mixed with liquid, this compound is converted into allyl isothiocyanate, which stimulates heat receptors in the mouth. The degree of spiciness depends on the type and amount of mustard seeds used.
Sweetness
Honey mustard contains sweet honey that balances out the spice of the mustard. The sweet and spicy combination enhances the flavor of chicken by providing an enticing balance of flavors.
Savory Umami Flavor
Mustard contains amino acids that stimulate umami receptors in the mouth that detect savory flavors. This gives it a savory, meaty quality that complements the flavor of chicken. The umami flavor fills out the overall taste profile.
Aromatics
Ingredients like garlic, onion, herbs, and spices are often added to mustard varieties. This provides an aromatic element that makes the mustard even more flavorful as a seasoning for chicken. The aromatics get imparted to the exterior and interior of the chicken.
How does mustard help get crispy chicken skin?
One of the benefits of using mustard with chicken is that it can help achieve deliciously crispy and flavorful chicken skin:
Browns from reaction with proteins
Mustard contains acids that break down the proteins in chicken skin. This reaction browns the chicken skin resulting in crispier texture and more depth of flavor.
Promotes moisture release
As mustard breaks down the chicken skin proteins, it causes moisture to release and evaporate off the surface of the skin. This drying effect concentrates the skin proteins, allowing them to set and get crispy.
Forms flavorful crust
The mustard flavors get concentrated onto the surface of the chicken as the water evaporates. This leaves a flavorful crust infused with tangy, spicy, and savory mustard flavors.
Contains coarse spices
Varieties like whole grain mustard have visible mustard seeds and spices. These coarse bits help physically textureize the chicken skin so it gets ultra-crispy.
Helps adhesion of coating
If doing a breaded coating, smearing on some mustard first helps the flour, breadcrumbs, or panko adhere better to the chicken skin for an extra crispy crust.
How does mustard keep chicken moist?
In addition to crisping up the skin, mustard can also help keep the chicken meat nice and moist during cooking. Here’s how it keeps chicken juicy:
Forms a moisture barrier
Brushing or rubbing mustard onto chicken helps create a coating that seals in the natural juices and moisture inside the meat. This moisture barrier prevents too much water from escaping.
Adds fat
Many mustards contain oil and egg yolks that help lend fat. Fat keeps chicken moist by basting the meat during cooking. The natural fats in chicken also get spread around more for even moisture.
Boosts flavorful browning
The sugars and proteins in mustard speed up the Maillard reaction that causes flavorful browning on the chicken surface. This reaction helps retain moisture better than plain drying alone.
Provides acidic moisture
Mustards made with vinegar are acidic, which enables them to retain and carry moisture well from the acidity. This provides some hydration to the chicken meat.
Contains hydrophilic compounds
Compounds like honey in honey mustard are hydrophilic, meaning they attract and contain water molecules well. This allows them to hold moisture against the chicken surface.
What types of chicken dishes use mustard?
There are many delicious ways to use various types of mustard with chicken. Some chicken dishes that commonly use mustard include:
Baked or Grilled Chicken
Coating chicken in mustard before baking or grilling helps form a flavorful, caramelized crust on the outside plus seals in moisture. Popular options include dijon, whole grain, and yellow mustard.
Chicken Sandwiches
Chicken sandwiches often contain mustard as a spread or condiment to add tangy flavor. Examples include chicken salad sandwiches with yellow or dijon mustard and grilled chicken sandwiches with honey mustard.
Chicken Wings
Buffalo style chicken wings are famously paired with a blue cheese dipping sauce. But the wings themselves are coated in a spicy blend of hot sauce and butter. Adding a bit of whole grain or dijon mustard boosts the flavor.
Chicken Glazes and Sauces
Honey mustard, dijon, or whole grain mustard work nicely when blended into glazes and sauces for roasted, grilled, or baked chicken. The mustard adds great flavor to balance sweetness and spices.
Marinated Chicken
Marinating chicken in a mustard-based blend infuses lots of extra flavor. The tanginess also helps tenderize meat. Try combinations like mustard, oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs and let chicken marinate before cooking.
What are good recipe ideas using chicken and mustard?
Here are some delicious recipe ideas highlighting chicken paired with different types of mustard:
Mustard Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs roasted with a mustard, garlic, and herb coating for crispy, juicy meat with a mustard crust.
Honey Mustard Baked Chicken
Boneless chicken breasts baked with a honey mustard glaze for juicy, sweet and tangy flavor.
Whole Grain Chicken Salad
Shredded rotisserie chicken mixed with mayo, whole grain mustard, celery, and onion for a flavorful salad.
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Mustard Aioli
Grilled chicken breasts served on rolls with a creamy mustard and garlic aioli.
Buffalo Chicken Skewers with Blue Cheese Dip
Chicken skewers coated in hot sauce and mustard then grilled, served with chunky blue cheese dip.
Mustard Herb Grilled Chicken
Chicken seasoned with dijon mustard, fresh herbs, lemon, and garlic then grilled for great flavor.
What are good tips for using mustard with chicken?
Here are some helpful tips for getting the most flavor and best results when using different types of mustard with chicken:
Slather it on
For maximum flavor and crisping effect, spread mustard in an even thick layer over all surfaces of the chicken before cooking.
Make it creamy
For a tastier coverage, blend mustard with mayo, yogurt, or sour cream before applying to chicken. This gives a creamier, more spreadable consistency.
Combine mustards
Mixing two or three types of mustard can provide more complex layers of flavor. Try combinations like dijon and whole grain or yellow and honey mustard.
Spice it up
Add extra kick by mixing spices like garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, or black pepper into mustard before using. Let sit to allow flavors to meld.
Use acidic ingredients
Boost the tangy flavor and moisture by adding acids like lemon juice, vinegars, or hot sauce to mustard mixtures and glazes.
Let chicken rest
Always let chicken rest 5-10 minutes after cooking with mustard. This allows juices to redistribute so chicken stays juicy when cut into.
Conclusion
Mustard is a versatile condiment that can add phenomenal flavor, texture, and moisture to chicken. The tangy spice blends wonderfully whether roasting, baking, grilling, or making chicken salads and sandwiches. From bright yellow to spicy brown to whole grain varieties, different types of mustard offer unique perks. With a range of flavor combinations possible, mustard helps create the ultimate chicken with crispy, well-seasoned skin and moist, tender meat. Use these tips to pick your favorite mustard and incorporate it into more chicken dishes.