What is nutmeg? Bring warm and comforting holiday flavors to your favorite desserts and mouthwatering dishes with this humble spice. A pinch is enough to remind you of home, bringing back wonderful nostalgic memories. Get to know more about this lovely spice and everything nice!
Nutmeg is undoubtedly one of my favorite spices, together with cinnamon and allspice. The bold flavor it adds to my favorite carrot cake and pumpkin banana bread is irreplaceable!
Itโs not just for desserts but also a great addition to savory dishes, like chicken kabobs and Salmon Wellington. Itโs undeniably a staple in African cooking, so I always have it in stock. Good thing itโs easily accessible and affordable.
What Is Nutmeg?
It is a popular spice often used in desserts, savory dishes, and beverages. Who knew the seed from a tree called Myristica Fragrans could be so delicious?
The seed is sun-dried for about 6-8 weeks. During this time, the seed and its hard coating separate. Then the dried seed is sold whole or powdered as nutmeg. However, the hard coating is called mace.
What Does Nutmeg Taste Like?
I usually associate it with autumn flavors because of its exceptional aroma and nutty, sweet, and woody notes. It gives any dish, sweet or savory, warm and comforting vibes.
However, a little goes a long way, and too much of this intensely flavored spice may ruin the dish, making it bitter or soapy. It can also be overpowering for those with sensitive tastebuds. So I suggest starting with a small amount and working your way from there.
Nutmeg Substitutes
- Mace is the number one substitute since it comes from the same seed and shares similar flavor profiles.
- Allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves are good substitutes if you find nutmeg a little overpowering.
- Seasoning blends, such as garam masala, apple pie spice, and pumpkin pie spice, also work well. However, these alternatives will taste slightly different.
Storage
Like any other spice, itโs best stored in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture to keep its flavor and freshness. The whole seed lasts up to four years if properly stored, while the ground spice can stay fresh for about six months. Itโs not hard to grind the whole spice, so thatโs what I usually have on hand because the flavor is generally better than already ground nutmeg.
Tip: Always label your spices with dates to keep track of their potency.
FAQs
You can easily find nutmeg in the spice section of your local grocery stores, along with other pantry staples such as cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. However, I usually find the freshest nutmeg in ethnic shops, like African and Middle-Eastern grocery stores.
You can go for whole if you rarely use nutmeg since it stays fresh longer. Plus, freshly grated nutmeg tastes better. However, if you want to save yourself from the extra work (grating), itโs better to use ground nutmeg instead.
According to what I read, itโs not poisonous in reasonable amounts, as a spice, for example. According to experts, too much can cause hallucinations and dizziness because of a chemical called myristicin. Donโt worry, though, because most recipes only call for ยฝ to 1 teaspoon, well within safe levels. According to research, it would take over two teaspoons all by yourself, and, so far, the symptoms seem to disappear in about 10 hours.
How to Use Nutmeg
This delightful spice is highly versatile and great for sweet or savory dishes, desserts, and beverages. I love putting a dash in my coffee or hot chocolate. You can also find them in several homemade spice blends, such as pumpkin pie spice, jerk sauce, and jerk seasoning.
Desserts
Beverages
Savory Dishes
Phil Young says
I love nutmeg..I use it for all kinds of things and as a replcement for cinnamon if Iโve run out of that.
Imma says
Good to know ๐
Nneoma jane says
I love fenugreek seeds, I prefer using it to curry powder, he only problem is preparing the fenugreek seed to powdered form is stressful.
Helen Margary says
Thanks you so much for this! I use nutmeg regularly, especially for my fried chicken. Nice to learn about the origin.
Imma says
Yeah, you will have more association with the spice once you aware about itโs origin, uses and benefits:)
Linda Hall says
I really enjoy your recipes and most of all you. Thank you for being such a beautiful spirit
Imma says
Thank you so much, your words pay my efforts well ๐ Much Love!