If regular honey mustard is a beloved part of your life and your condiment shelf, brace yourself for a sweet and spicy New Orleans-style party in your mouth - Popeye's copycat Mardi Gras Mustard.
We don't tackle very many copycat recipes here at Weekday Pescatarian, but every once in awhile something comes along that requires replicating. Mostly because I live outside the country now and need to make my own fast food sauces.
This super easy version of Popeye's iconic Mardi Gras Mustard is a family favorite and gets replicated no matter where in the world I land!
What you need to make this sauce:
Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:
Mustards: this recipe calls for a combination of whole grain and spicy brown mustard. The mustard seeds add a lot of flavor and texture to the sauce, so I recommend using it if you can find it. Substitute Creole mustard for spicy brown mustard, if needed.
Deli-style horseradish: creamy deli-style horseradish is milder than prepared horseradish, which is just fresh grated and combined with vinegar. So if using prepared horseradish, start with 1 teaspoon, then taste and adjust.
Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.
How to make this recipe:
1. Combine ingredients and rest
Add all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until fully combined.
Refrigerate for a half hour. Stir and taste once the flavors blend, then adjust seasoning. Feel free to dial up the heat with more horseradish, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
Serve as a dipping sauce for Fried Shrimp, as a sandwich spread on Blackened Grouper Sandwich, Parmesan Truffle French Fries or as a delicious honey mustard sauce over your favorite salad.
Looking for more delicious sauce recipes?
FAQ's, Variations and Serving Suggestions:
If you don't have whole grain mustard, Zatarain's creole mustard is a good substitute, or another stone ground mustard that gives you some texture in the sauce. In a pinch, just add an additional tablespoon of spicy brown mustard in place of whole grain. Two tablespoons Zatarain's creole mustard can be substituted in place of both mustards (whole grain and spicy brown).
For my money, the best pairings for Mardi Gras Mustard are Fried Shrimp and French Fries. But when you're looking for slightly healthier option, skip the vinaigrette and use this kicked up honey mustard dressing on the Tossed Salad for a Crowd. For non-pescatarians, serving this mustard sauce alongside ranch dressing, BBQ and a giant platter of chicken fingers sounds like an excellent strategy to me.
As written this recipe offers a pretty balanced flavor. Depending on what I'm serving with the Mardi Gras Mustard, I will add an extra teaspoon or two of horseradish for additional spice. If you're looking for a truly tongue-tingling experience, add a quarter teaspoon of cayenne and a few shakes of hot sauce, then taste and adjust seasoning from there.
Though each bottle's lifespan will vary, in general, mustard's flavor and texture will degrade over time, making it unusable. Every few months be sure to check all the dates on your condiment shelves!
Keep leftover dipping sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Sweet and Spicy Mardi Gras Mustard
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
The most delicious copycat recipe for dipping shrimp, chicken, fries and veggies!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
1 tablespoon deli style horseradish
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar, packed
¼ teaspoon cajun seasoning
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until fully combined. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Stir and taste, then adjust seasoning. Depending on your cajun seasoning brand, you may want to add an extra pinch of spice or salt. Same with the horseradish, which can vary widely in heat level.
Notes
Serve in a side dish with Fried Shrimp and Parmesan Truffle Fries, as a sweet and hot mustard sauce over your Blackened Grouper Sandwich or as a sweet and spicy honey mustard salad dressing over your favorite salad. For non-pescatarians, grab some chicken nuggets and have a party!
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Sauces
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Maggie
perfect recipe! my kids loved the sauce at popeyes and now I can make it at home. we all loved the flavor. I made a batch a little spicier for the adults and it was a huge hit, too. thanks!
Christina Jolam
Great to hear, Maggie! Love the idea of having a mild and spicy version at all times 😉 My kinda condiment shelf! Thanks for coming back to leave a helpful review!