Brown Mustard seeds (Brassica juncea) are a common culinary spice used to add a digestive kick to a variety of recipes. The mustard seed is hot, pungent, and oily, which makes it ideal for stimulating the digestive fire and balancing vata and kapha, but possibly too heating for pitta. These tiny brown seeds are best when sautA ed with complementary spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander. Just when the seeds begin to pop, add in your chopped vegetables for a flavorful stir-fry. Brown mustard seeds are one of the ingredients in Kitchari Spice Mix and they are a great addition to dals and beans, as well as soups and stews. When ground, the pungent and earthy flavor of brown mustard seeds adds a delicious complexity to spice blends, marinades, salad dressings, and homemade sauces.