Horseradish is a spicy root vegetable used in savory dishes as a condiment. Its hotness is quite strong but it is also good for your health if you use it in reasonable amounts. It goes well with meat, especially steak and ribs as well as with vegetables and sauces.
The creamy version of horseradish is a spicy sauce itself. If you love using it in your recipes then check this list of horseradish substitutes to consider whenever you run out of it or have allergies from it.
The best substitutes are horseradish sauce, wasabi paste, wasabi oil and powder, brown mustard, mustard seeds and oil, dijon mustard, black radish, red radish, daikon radish, ginger, rutabaga, parsnip and sauerkraut.`
Best Horseradish Substitutes To Try
1. Horseradish Sauce
The first substitute that may cross your mind is horseradish sauce because it is available almost everywhere and is the easiest alternative to fresh horseradish.
You can even make it at home if you have horseradish roots and store it for later use. You can keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
As for the canned horseradish sauce, it is made of sour cream or mayonnaise and prepared horseradish which contains grated horseradish roots, vinegar, salt and sometimes ground pepper to enhance the taste.
You can serve it with steaks, ribs, beef, pork, eggs, potatoes and other vegetable dishes as well as with sushi instead of wasabi or horseradish.
2. Wasabi: Paste, Oil or Powder
Wasabi is another well-known spicy condiment used with many savory dishes. It is also called Japanese horseradish, so you can safely choose it to replace common horseradish if you don’t mind its fresh green color.
Wasabi comes in several varieties and if you don’t have fresh wasabi you can use wasabi paste, wasabi oil or powdered wasabi instead.
In fact, wasabi paste served with stored sushi is not made of pure wasabi. It mostly contains horseradish which means it’s a great substitute for horseradish and its sauce. Wasabi oil contains wasabi or horseradish extract.
In case, neither of these varieties of wasabi are available, you may just try wasabi powder. It is made of wasabi japonica plant and is used as a spicy seasoning.
3. Brown Mustard: Paste, Oil or Seeds
Mustard also belongs to the same family as horseradish and wasabi. Brown mustard is spicy enough to substitute horseradish. Although it differs in color, it is a good alternative for sandwiches, sausages, roast beef and pork.
If your dish calls for fresh horseradish then consider using brown mustard seeds instead. You can also use mustard oil or mustard paste depending on your recipe.
Use them in equal amounts when replacing with horseradish.
4. Dijon Mustard
Originating from France, dijon mustard is the creamy version of mustard. It is made of brown mustard seeds and white wine. It’s a popular condiment in French dishes and can be a good substitute for horseradish too.
Compared to regular mustard and horseradish, dijon mustard tastes more pungent because of the wine.
It comes with milder spiciness and can be used with sandwiches, eggs and potatoes. It works well with almost all types of meat including chicken and pork.
5. Black Radish
Although radish and horseradish are not the same, any type of radish can be a good alternative to horseradish. Black radish comes for help as a fresh substitute.
It is a root vegetable with black skin and is white inside. It can provide your dish with a similar spicy taste and white color just like horseradish.
However, most of the heat is in the skin, so if you decide to remove it you’ll reduce some spiciness.
6. Red Radish
As for red radish, it is smaller in size and milder in taste. It is usually added to salads and sandwiches to bring a pop of color, mild spiciness and a fresher look.
You can use red radish instead of horseradish in many dishes. If your recipe calls for prepared horseradish, a spicy paste or sauce you can make it too with red radish.
7. Daikon Radish
Daikon radish is perhaps the mildest of all the possible substitutes. It is white and compared to horseradish and the rest of radishes, it tastes less peppery and spicy.
It works well in stews, soups, sandwiches and salads. If you have fresh daikon then you can make subtle sauces with it too.
If you want to reach a spicier taste, you can just add spicy seasonings and condiments.
8. Fresh Ginger
Ginger root doesn’t taste exactly the same way as horseradish but it can substitute horseradish in several dishes. It has some mild spiciness and carries a little bit of sweetness.
It is a good alternative if you avoid too much heat but you can’t use it with every dish requiring horseradish.
While horseradish is spicier than ginger, there are many suitable seasonings to pair with ginger for a spicier taste.
9. Rutabaga
Both the taste and the texture of rutabaga are quite similar to horseradish. Overall it’s a root vegetable and there is something very common between many root vegetables and that’s perhaps the flavor.
So, rutabaga tastes a bit bitter and offers a mild spiciness. It can replace horseradish in cooked dishes such as soups and stews as well as in vegetable dishes and salads.
Rutabaga is a rich source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
10. Parsnip
Use parsnip instead of horseradish if you are not into too spicy dishes. This root vegetable has some sweetness which will be reflected in the dish.
Parsnip is usually used in stews, soups, chicken broth and other cooked dishes. In order to use it instead of horseradish you need to bake, stem or mash parsnip before mixing it with other ingredients.
11. Sauerkraut
This may seem a weird substitute but it goes well with many savory dishes. If you wonder what sauerkraut is then I am here to tell you that it’s a shredded and fermented cabbage with a salty flavor and sour taste.
Since it carries less peppery taste than the rest of alternatives you may choose it for sauces and combine with other condiments too. It goes well with sour cream and mayonnaise.
FAQs on Horseradish
How to make horseradish sauce?
The main ingredients for horseradish sauce are as follows: prepared horseradish, sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, black pepper and chives. All you need is just mixing all of these ingredients in a bowl and serving with your favorite savory dishes, roast meat and vegetables.
What is prepared horseradish?
Prepared horseradish is a mixture of grated horseradish root, vinegar, and salt.
Is horseradish a Superfood?
Yes, horseradish is considered to be a great superfood. It contains glucosinolates, which are included in cancer-fighting components.
What foods go well with horseradish?
Horseradish perfectly pairs with meats, vegetables, beets, peas and leeks.
Can I substitute horseradish sauce for prepared horseradish?
Since the basic ingredient of horseradish sauce is horseradish, you can safely substitute horseradish sauce for prepared horseradish. The main difference is the presence of sour cream or mayonesses in the sauce which makes it taste milder.
Conclusion
If you have allergies from horseradish and its relative root vegetables and plants, such as wasabi or mustard, then be careful in your choice. Opt for the horseradish substitutes that are safer for your health.
Different recipes call for different condiments and seasonings. Decide whether you need to use fresh, dried or any other substitute in your recipe then feel free to add other condiments according to your preferences.