Mustard oil
Mustard oil – sarson ka tel in Hindi, shorsher tel in Bengali – is what gives Bengali fish curries, Punjabi sarson ka saag and homemade achar their sharp, nose-tingling character. Anyone… 7 Products
7 of 7 products
View
Mustard oil
Mustard oil – sarson ka tel in Hindi, shorsher tel in Bengali – is what gives Bengali fish curries, Punjabi sarson ka saag and homemade achar their sharp, nose-tingling character. Anyone who grew up in Bangladesh or eastern India will recognise that smell from the kitchen doorway.
We carry mustard oil from Radhuni (250 ml), Alibaba, Heera Pure Mustard Oil (500 ml), Ifad (1 litre) and other brands such as TRS and Pran, plus a pure cooking mustard oil in a 1-litre bottle. One important point: in the EU, some mustard oil bottles are labelled "for external use only". Always check the label, and for cooking choose an oil that is clearly sold as an edible cooking oil.
It's essential for hilsa and other Bengali fish dishes, for bhorta, jhal muri and a panch phoron tempering. Browse every bottle under oils and essences.
Cooking with mustard oil
- Heat it to a haze: for curries and frying, heat the oil until it just starts to smoke and turns paler, let it cool for a moment, then add your spices. This takes the edge off the pungency.
- Raw for bhorta: a few drops of cold, edible mustard oil over aloo bhorta, begun bhorta or jhal muri give that unmistakable kick.
- For pickles: it's the classic oil for mango, lime and chilli pickles because it carries spices so well – see our achar and pickles for ideas.
- Storage: keep it dark, cool and tightly closed.
In Bengali fish dishes it pairs perfectly with mustard paste, green chilli and turmeric. Find the rest of the pantry under Bengali groceries.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook with mustard oil?
Mustard oil has been a cooking oil in South Asia for generations. In the EU, though, some bottles are labelled for external use only. Read the label, and only cook with oil that is clearly sold as an edible oil.
Why should mustard oil be heated until it smokes?
Bringing it briefly to smoking point mellows the sharp, raw pungency and gives a rounder flavour. Let it cool slightly afterwards, so spices such as panch phoron don't burn when they go in.
Is Senföl the same as mustard oil?
Yes, Senföl is simply the German word for mustard oil pressed from mustard seed. Don't confuse it with the concentrated essential mustard oil sold in pharmacies, which is something entirely different.
What else is mustard oil used for?
Many families also use it traditionally for body and hair care, for example as a massage oil or hair oil. In the kitchen, however, always make sure the bottle is labelled as an edible cooking oil.