Whole mustard
Whole mustard
Mustard seeds are used as a
spice in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The seeds are
usually fried until they pop. The leaves are also stir-fried and eaten as a
vegetable. In Maharashtra, mustard oil is used
for body massage during extreme winters, as it is thought to keep the body
warm. In Bengali cuisine mustard oil
or shorshertel is the predominant cooking medium. Mustard
seeds are also essential ingredients in spicy fish dishes like jhaal and paturi.
A variety of Indian pickles consisting
mainly of mangoes, red chili powder,
and powdered mustard seed preserved in mustard oil are popular in southern
India.