Mustard Oil is an ingredient that has lately captured the imagination of one of us and there’s a slight envy of the other’s Bihari roots as mustard oil has featured in her food all her life. But since the discovery has been made, the beautiful, silky, bright gold oil is making the rounds in our kitchen, from traditional uses, such as in sabzis, to the inventive and experimental, such as in salad dressings.

Spicy and savoury, Mustard oil pairs beautifully with fragrant notes such as cinnamon and fennel, caramelized onions and carrots. The sharp, intense, flavorful oil adds a rich savoriness to foods and a nasal hit of heat the way wasabi does. It is glorious. Here are some recipes that use Mustard Oil to great affect.

Sarson Ka saag: A recipe for Bihari style mustard greens cooked in mustard oil. A pungent, delicious dish. Click here for the recipe.

Bihari Style Potato Stew: This stew made with baby potatoes that have been marinating in mustard oil and spices is fragrant and luscious and pure heaven. Click here for the recipe.

Panch phoron Potato: A simple, every day recipe that works great with potato but would probably work just as well with any sabzi. We can imagine bhindi or even a paneer bhurji using this recipe. Click here for the recipe.

Baingan Bharta: A simple dish with complex flavors. The creaminess of roasted eggplant dressed with mustard oil and sweet raw onions to cut through the sharpness. Click here for the recipe.

Mashed Potato: Boil and mash some potatoes. Roast a dry Kashmiri red chili over a naked flame and add that to the potatoes . Add some chopped onions, some salt, a touch of cumin or chili powder and some glorious mustard oil. Mashed potato like you’ve never had before.

Salads: Grate a carrot or a beetroot or blanch some grated bottle gourd, add some salt, some herbs or maybe some cumin powder and drizzle a touch of mustard oil over it all for an intensely delicious salad dressing.

Bihari Mutton: We’re not going to say anything except that you have to try it to believe it. This recipe makes a delicious, fragrant, fantastic mutton. Try it!

Try out these recipes using this fantastic oil and you’ll soon realize you can’t get enough of the stuff.