Nutmeg
History, Health Benefits and Cooking Tips
In the early 1500s, explorers were on ships travelling all over the globe, in search of spices. Some voyages brought these adventurers to the tropical Spice Islands in Eastern Indonesia. There an evergreen tree with fruit that looked very similar to a peach or apricot was found. Once the fruit is cracked open, you can see the seed, which is nutmeg. This seed is covered with a reddish membrane that once dried is known to us as mace.
Appearance
The nutmeg is a brown oval-shaped seed the size of a nut. Its exterior is extremely hard, yet it is extremely easy to grate. You can find nutmeg in the spice section of your local grocery store where it is sold in two forms: whole and grated. Nutmeg has a much more spicy, pungent, warm flavor when freshly grated, so it is recommended that you buy whole nutmeg and grate it as needed. A simple zester or other small grater will do the trick. Nutmeg, like other spices, should be stored in a cool, dark place.
Flavor Affinities
Nutmeg goes wonderfully well with:
- apples
- breads (sweet)
- butter
- cabbage
- cakes
- cardamon
- carrots
- cheese
- cherries
- chicken
- chocolate
- cinnamon
- cloves
- cream
- cream-based soups
- curry
- custards
- eggplant
- fish
- ginger
- greens
- ham
- hot drinks
- milk puddings
- mulled wine
- mushrooms
- onions
- parsnips
- pate
- pears
- pepper
- pies
- pork
- pumpkin
- sage
- shellfish
- spinach
- stuffing
- sweet potatoes
- terrines
- tomatoes
- turkey
- veal
- winter squash
Substitution Guide
Use mace in place of nutmeg and vice versa in recipes. Due to mace's delicate flavor, you may need to double the amount of mace used in recipes that ask for nutmeg, and half the amount of nutmeg used in recipes that request mace. Also, 1 whole nutmeg will produce 2 - 3 teaspoons of grated nutmeg.
Cooking Tip
Add freshly grated nutmeg at the end of cooking as the heat destroys a lot of the flavor.
Health Benefits
Nutmeg, historically, has been used to alleviate diarrhea, gas, aiding digestion and improving the appetite. Nutmeg contains 10% of a volatile oil, known as nutmeg oil. This oil has been known to support the adrenal glands. Also, nutmeg oil has aided in the recovery of gout, arthritis, aches, pains, nausea and aid in sleep issues.
* Nutmeg can produce severe toxity at doses exceeding one teaspoon. Nausea, vomitting, dizziness and hallucinations can be some of the effects. Myristicin is the component in nutmeg believed to cause these reactions.
Folklore
Due to the high cost of nutmeg, Europeans in the 1800s used to carry around their own nutmeg and graters. Then, they could add their own nutmeg to their food. Soon, people began to wear graters around their necks as a pendant.
Pagans also use nutmeg as symbols of luck, money, health and fidelity.
Recipes
Turkey with Squash and ApplesIngredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds turkey thighs, skin removed
- 1/2 pound Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into quarters
- 1/2 pound Gala apples, cored and cut into quarters
- 1 pound of acorn squash, seeded and cut into 8 pieces
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
- In a 13" x 9" baking pan, place the turkey thighs on one side of the with the squash and apples on the other side of the pan.
- In a small bowl, combine the apple juice, maple syrup and spices. Pour over the turkey, apples and squash. Cover the pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
- Remove cover and baste the turkey with the juices. Bake uncovered another 15 minutes or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 180 degrees.
Yields: 4 servings
For More Information
Whole Nutmeg
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