My Grandmother’s Mustard Sauce (AKA: “The Ham Sauce”)
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Are you making a ham this holiday? If so, make this mustard sauce, too. It is so delicious and so simple to prepare — it’s a matter of bringing a few ingredients to a boil and then passing the mixture through a strainer. It’s fantastic for leftover ham sandwiches.
In my family, this mustard sauce is as essential as the ham on the holiday table. It takes no time to whisk together, and it is so nice to have on hand for leftover ham sandwiches.
Serve it aside this baked ham with brown sugar glaze.
You can watch the video above, but here’s the visual play-by-play: Gather your ingredients: cream, ground mustard, vinegar, salt, sugar, egg yolks.
Combine them in a sauce pan:
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking often. Do not walk away. As soon as it simmers, it’s done. Strain it.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week (or longer).
It is sooooo nice to have on hand for leftover ham sandwiches on …
My Grandmother’s Mustard Sauce
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 .5 cups
Description
In my family, this mustard sauce is as essential as the ham on the holiday table. It takes no time to whisk together, and it is so nice to have on hand for leftover ham sandwiches.
Not all dry mustards are created equally, and depending on the type you use, your sauce could taste unpleasantly strong. I don’t have a strong preference of brands here, but in recent years I use the Tone’s ground mustard, which I find at my local co-op.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (114 g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (70 g) white wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons (24 g) ground mustard, see notes above
- 4 egg (60 g roughly) yolks
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) kosher salt
- 1 cup (240 g) heavy cream
Instructions
- Place a strainer over a medium-sized bowl (able to hold about 2 cups of liquid). Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer while monitoring closely and stirring often. As soon as the mixture comes to boil, pour it through the strainer into the bowl. Let cool, then cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
92 Comments on “My Grandmother’s Mustard Sauce (AKA: “The Ham Sauce”)”
Ohmyword, your family is such a treasure trove of tasty recipes! I am not a mustard person (would never purposely add it to a sandwich, but wouldn’t turn a mustarded sandwich away), but this sauce is *incredible*. We regularly make real Bavarian pretzels around here, and this mustard sauce will be replacing our cheese sauce. It’s just heavenly. I couldn’t stop dipping and gobbling whatever bread I could find! Thank you, thank you, so much for sharing it with us!
Made this with 1/2 fresh ground mustard seed + 1/2 Coleman’s pre-ground mustard. Just right, with a delicate kick.
Great to hear! Thanks for writing and sharing your notes 🙂
First time hosting Easter, and was looking for something different. Came across both your ham recipe (with the simple glaze) and the Mustard sauce. Both turned out quit well, and were simple to make. My sister, who doesn’t like mustard sauce, was won over.
The mustard sauce is a nice blend of sweet and “mustardy”. Could it be a little too sweet? Maybe. Works extremely well with leftovers as well.
Definitely a keeper!
Hi Mike! So nice to hear all of this, and I could totally see cutting back the sugar in the ham recipe. This is one of those old-fashioned recipes I haven’t ever tinkered with, but I know it would turn out just fine with less sugar. Thanks for writing!
Hi Ali,
I haven’t made this yet, but I have two little questions:
1. Do you buy your ground mustard bulk or have any brand to recommend as 1/4c is more than I generally have on hand or buy at the grocery?
2. How long (I know it says 1 week or longer, but I’m hoping to push the “longer” ) would you feel comfortable keeping this in the refrigerator?
Thank you so very much! I am so appreciative of your work!
take care,
Maureen
Hi Maureen! Thank you for your kind words. Means a lot 🙂 Regarding your questions:
1. Do you buy your ground mustard bulk or have any brand to recommend as 1/4c is more than I generally have on hand or buy at the grocery?
I do not! I buy those little tiny containers of ground mustard … it’s 0.85 ounces — not sure if it ever yields a complete 1/4 cup but I always buy 2 or 3 because I’ll use them eventually.
2. How long (I know it says 1 week or longer, but I’m hoping to push the “longer” ) would you feel comfortable keeping this in the refrigerator?
I would imagine 2 weeks … I know I’ve definitely kept it that long if not longer. I am a believer in tasting: if it tastes fine and there’s no mold, I’ll eat. There is so much vinegar in this recipe, that I think that helps preserve it.
I love your food!!!!!!!! Your videos are perfect!!! The way you prepare the food is easy to understand the recipe. Thank you for not talking. Some times it’s nice to not have noise. .
So nice to hear this, Kathy 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you for writing. Means a lot.
Hi Ali, this looks so good! The instructions say let it come to a boil but the video says just to a simmer. Does it matter? Thanks!
Simmer is probably more accurate! Editing the recipe now. Thanks for writing!
Wow this looks so simple and so good. We’ve had a ham in the fridge that’s ready to be cooked. This mustard sauce will elevate the ham for us. Def. a good tip to use it in sandwiches! I love your posts and the plethora of great recipes and ideas!
Oh yay! I hope you love it Roxanne! I find it to be irresistible. Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Ali,
Can white vinegar be substituted if I don’t have white wine vinegar on hand?
Thank you so much.
Yes! Go for it 🙂
This is so, so, so good. I kept licking my fingers since…you know, there was a little bit left in the bowl and I hate to waste things. It reminds me a bit of a honey mustard salad dressing but with more of a mustard kick. So glad to have found this recipe today so I could serve it with our Christmas Eve ham :-).
So great to hear this, Kathy! And I hear you: I find this sauce to be completely irresistible. I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and I’m wishing you a Happy New Year!!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Delicious, delicious, delicious. My Christmas eve dinner guests gobbled it up. And it’s a snap to make, and I’m grateful that it can be made ahead of time. It reminds me of mustard mousse, a bit of a throwback, which uses gelatin to create a firm version of the sauce.
So great to hear this, Louisa! I am making this tonight since my ham never arrived in time for Christmas. I can’t wait. Great to hear your guests approved. Happy New Year!!
A bit too sweet for me.
I substituted white vinegar with no problem.
Will use less sugar next time!!
I can see this! Thanks for writing. Less sugar will do the trick 🙂
This is the BEST Sauce ever. I made it for our Christmas ham and we are still talking about it.
While I am not doing ham for Easter, we will be having ham sandwiches and I am tempted to
make some to have on those as you suggest, Ali. Kudos to your grandmother for the recipe and kudos to you for sharing it!!
I’m so happy to read this, Sally, because this recipe is truly one of my absolute favorites … so tasty but also near and dear to my heart. So glad you and your family approved!!
looks delicious definitely will give a try to this recipe. homemade and healthy.
i made this tonight ahead of easter, took a taste and am already so excited to eat it on Sunday!
Yay!! So great to hear this, Sarah 🙂 🙂 🙂 Happy Easter!!
Just made for Easter ham. Taste is quite “adult” in my opinion…not bad, just quite bitter. Followed recipe exactly and got a fresh Tin of Coleman’s mustard just in case. Result Is also oddly chaulky…like recipe had flour in it, but of course it does not. I am sure this is “user error” as your recipes are so yummy. But I don’t think this is gonna go over to my sister’s house today. I really not upset as I can just thin out some grey poupon but I wonder what I did wrong?
Oh darn! Not sure what explains the chalky texture… possibly the coleman’s? I’ve never used that brand, but I just used a random brand from a grocery store down here in South Carolina where we’re staying for the week, and it worked fine! The flavor of this sauce should not be bitter at all — the flavor here relies on that sweet-sharp dynamic between the vinegar and the sugar. So sorry this didn’t work out. Again, my only thought is the coleman’s. When I’m back home, I’ll buy some and experiment.
Amazing!!
Great to hear, Kait! Thanks for writing 🙂 🙂 🙂
This is absolutely the best mustard I’ve ever had – my family goes through honey mustard at an alarming rate, and I see this recipe as completely replacing what we normally buy! It has the perfect amount of sweetness. And so easy to make! I was just wondering – have you ever tried using this in one of your vinaigrettes? I am thinking it would be wonderful incorporated into some sort of salad dressing, maybe for a leftover Easter ham chef salad! Just curious if you had any suggestions on what might work best! Thank you for sharing such a great family recipe, it will be one of ours now, too! 🙂
So great to hear this, Nicole! And so funny you ask this, because I did this just yesterday! We are in a rental house in South Carolina and our pantry items are limited. I had bought ingredients for the mustard sauce and made that first thing yesterday morning. Then I made the glaze for the ham, which had fresh orange juice, maple syrup, and brown sugar in it. And I had oil and vinegar on hand. SO, to make the dressing, I used 1/4 cup white balsamic, a teaspoon or two of the mustard sauce, a few tablespoons of the orange-juice glaze, salt, and 1/2 cup olive oil. It was so good! So, in sum, yes! I think using a teaspoon or two in any basic dressing recipe will offer both sweetness and bite as well as act as an emulsifier.
That IS funny, and that sounds so delicious! I actually made your recipe for the ham glaze yesterday, it didn’t occur to me to use some like that – I love multi-tasking recipes 🙂 I am definitely going to make this tonight, I can’t wait! Thank you so much for always having such great responses!!
Had to report back after making this to go with my otherwise unimpressive ham- it was so good! Also loved it with steamed asparagus and I’m sure I’ll find a myriad of ways to use it up.
Love a classic, traditional recipe. So many of yours are becoming traditions in my home :).
So great to hear this, Abby! I put it on everything — the bread, the vegetables … it makes everything better. Bummer about the ham!
This was delicious! I made to serve with my Easter ham (also your recipe which we loved!) and it was a hit. I didn’t have white wine vinegar so I used a smaller amount of apple cider vinegar and it worked but I’m looking forward to trying it with the white wine vinegar. Thank you for sharing this Ali!
Great to hear, Sarah! Thanks so much for writing 💕
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. We made it for Thanksgiving this year and everyone enjoyed it. Can leftovers be frozen and do you think halving the recipe would work?
Great to hear, Beth!
The recipe can definitely be halved. I have never tried freezing it, but I think because it is cooked, it will likely freeze well. I think it’s worth a shot!
Was 4 tablespoons the correct amount of dry mustard to use. or was it suppose to be teaspoons. I used the 4 tablespoons and we couldn’t eat it, it was way too strong. i am going to make it again but not use near that amount of mustard.
Hi Bonnie! It is the right amount. It must be that different brands of dry mustard are more powerful than others. Do you recall what brand? I’ll make a note. So sorry to hear this as this is one of my favorite sauces.
It’s that time of year again, Ali – baking and making all the traditional holiday foods. Our most recent recipe, added to the traditional list just last year, is your amazing, fantastic Mustard Sauce – we love it so much that, once again, for Christmas dinner, we’re making your winner Simple Baked Ham to go with it The only change to the Mustard Sauce is we’re doubling it because really can you never have enough of it?!😀
Yay! So nice to hear this, Sally! I double batch of mustard sauce is requisite at our house, too 🙂 🙂 🙂 Happy happy holidays to you and your family!
My husband’s grandmother’s recipe is very similar but made without the cream and it is also a MUST when we have ham or ham loaf made from leftover ham and ground pork. I am going to try your creamy one because it looks so luscious. Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Hope you love it Marijke! It’s my fave 🙂 🙂 🙂
This sauce is magical. Thank you for sharing this family recipe. Simple to put together and complex on the palette. A perfect combo.
Great to hear, Helen! Thanks for writing 🙂
Yikes! Here we are “iced” in in Portland Or this morning and I realize I have no white wine vinegar for this delicious recipe. (I know – champagne problem!) With no ability to get to a store, Ali, if by chance you are there, any suggestions for best substitute? – I have other vinegars up to the ying yang — red wine, sherry, apple cider, viognier honey, rice both seasoned and plain, lemon juice . Hope you and all your cooking fans are keeping warm and safe during this massive near countrywide winter storm! ❤️💚❤️
Hi Sally! I think apple cider or unseasoned rice vinegar will work just fine. Stay safe!! Happy holidays!!
You are the best – getting back to me so quickly on the heels of Christmas — thank you thank you –our Christmas menus also include your ham, potatoes gratin, overnight cinnamon brioche rolls –more of your amazing recipes that are quickly becoming a tradition in our home. It’s been another fabulous year cooking along with you – looking forward to more delicious, successful baking in 2023. Merry Merry!
Awwww this means the world, Sally 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you so much for all of this. Wishing you a Merry Merry Christmas as well!
so perfectly dellicious, ali. could just eat it with a spoon. looking forward to using it on sandwiches (your brioche buns perhaps), with apple and cheddar. and thanks for the introduction to Tone’s,
too.
Great to hear, Jude! I live for the ham sauce and love hearing when anyone shares the same enthusiasm 🙂 That sandwich sounds divine! Happy happy 2023 🎉
I had good results with the ham. I used a half so the cooking time seemed short. But the ham was nice. However, the sauce was fabulous. It is a bit zippy but adds so much flavour. Thanks for this wonderful meal.
Great to hear! Love that ham sauce so much 🙂 🙂 🙂
WOW!!! What a killer recipe and the taste is unbelievable. Can’t wait to serve this with my Oscar’s Smokehouse Ham for Easter. Once again, you continue to amaze me with such phenomenal “keeper” recipes. Adding this to my favorites.
Great to hear, Mary! Thanks so much for writing and thank you for your kind words. Means a lot 🙂 🙂 🙂
Love this sauce. It’s a family favourite. I did alter one thing, I cooked it in the microwave and it turned out fantastic!
Wow! Brilliant! I had no idea you could do this. Thanks so much for writing 🙂
My family all loved this sauce recipe. Even my vegetarian mom ate it with the veg side dishes! Thank you for sharing – it was great and so easy!
Yay! So nice to read this, Mary 🙂 🙂 🙂 I love this sauce with everything.
This sauce turned out great! I couldn’t find anything but No Name ground mustard at the store but it was fine. Just the right balance of mustard and sweetness that made our ham taste amazing.
Great to hear, Shane! Thanks so much for writing 🙂