Pickled mustard greens (burong mustasa) is where mustard greens are fermented in brine for 3-5 days. Learn how to make them the easiest and simplest way.
I've harvested some mustard greens (mustasa) from my pallet planter boxes some days ago. In the photo below, they are the ones with the big leaves on the right side of the box and in front and at the back. I brought the seeds from the Philippines. I do not think they are popularly known to be edible here in Germany, can't even find a German word for it. So I thought I'll just grow me some of these piquant greens.
What to do with my fresh bounty? I would eat them fresh if I have some 'buro'. Buro is a Kapampangan delicacy of fermented rice with (fresh) fish or shrimp. It has a pungent smell and is usually an acquired taste.
So for now, I made pickled mustard greens or 'burong mustasa' instead. 
So how do you make pickled mustard greens??? There are different methods I found but of course, I chose the easiest and most basic one.
First, wash every single leaf with water. Making sure they are clean.
Pat them dry with a paper towel and leave them to dry out a bit for some hours or overnight.
This is absolutely optional. Others just cut them into smaller pieces but I wanted to have it exactly like how I remember them from our local market. So I tied each leaf into knots.
Place the knotted leaves in a bowl. Sprinkle with rock salt and add water.
Gently massage using your hands.
Transfer the leaves to a jar and fill the jar with the brine solution. Cover and place in a dark place with room temperature for three to five days.
They would look like this after 3-5 days and they are ready.
Pickled mustard greens can be eaten as it is. But the usual Filipino way was to saute it with scrambled eggs added. On my next post, I will share a similar recipe with my batch of pickled mustard greens. It was simple but really good! Armin loved it, too bad I only made a small batch to try. Now I have to wait for my next harvest time to make it again.
Printable Recipe
Pickled Mustard Greens (Burong Mustasa)
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh mustard greens
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup rock salt
Instructions
- First, wash every single leaf with water. Making sure they are clean.
- Pat them dry with a paper towel and leave them to dry out and slightly wither for a couple of hours or overnight.
- Tie each leaf into a knot or cut them into smaller pieces about an inch long.
- Place them in a bowl. Sprinkle leaves with rock salt and add water.
- Gently massage the leaves by rubbing and slightly squeezing using your hands for 3-5 minutes.
- Transfer the leaves to a jar and fill the jar with the same brine solution making sure that the leaves are fully submerged. Cover and place the jar in a dark place with room temperature for at 3-5 days.
Lala says
Hello, can you use kosher salt instead of rock salt?
Bebs says
Sure you can, Lala.
Rose says
How do you make brine?
Bebs says
Hi Rose, you will find the recipe in the post.
rose says
i tried making this... ay napaka sarap... i sometimes mixed eggs with it, sarap i partner sa tuyo or tinapa. ❤️
Bebs says
Oh yes, kahit po si Amrin gustong gusto niya, I saute it with onions, tomatoes and eggs.
Aubrey Señeris says
My mustasa tasted like wasabi. What could have gone wrong? 🙁
doris says
Forgot all about this pickled dish if I can call it that. Bought the mustard greens this morning and in the process of drying the leaves. Checking your other menus. Thanks for the tips.
Rose says
Love your site! Just looking at the pictures of your creations make me salivate. I also love the stories you tell. Keep up the good work, Bebs and Armin!
Bebs says
Thank you for the very nice and encouraging words, Rose! ????
Linda says
Hi Bebs, my first time to comment and I want to say I love yr pallet planters and also I love yr knotted mustasa. I'll definitely make this recipe and to serve I'll slice it, arrange it neatly in a platter and add bagoong and a squeeze of calamansi and slivers of fresh chillies on top. Btw, I love yr blog!
Bebs says
Hi Linda, Thanks for the lovely comment! I would try your idea next time I make burong mustasa again. Can't wait! ????