The Spice Nutmeg

How to Identify Nutmeg

Nutmeg comes from a tropical evergreen tree that grows quite high, about 33 feet (10 m) more or less. The tree takes more than 10 years to mature and produce nutmeg. A the tree that has reached this stage will render about 2000 nutmegs every yeat for the following 70 to 75 years. It is female trees the ones to bear the fruits, which resemble a peach, and the seeds.

The seed resembles a red peach kernel. The brown core is nutmeg. The weblike aril, crimson in color, covering the core is mace.

How to use and store Nutmeg

nutmegs can be coated with lime to improve appearance Nutmeg can be found as whole kernels or ground. Buy whole kernels best and grate as needed. There are graters designed exclusively for nutmeg. Store whole nutmegs in an airtight container, in a cool, dry, dark place.

Kernels come in a dark brown color or white, when they are limed. Lime coated nutmeg is not the best quality as this is often done to improve appearance and hide problems, such as worms. If the kernel is good quality, some oil should come out when pressed.

Nutmeg is often used ground in puddings, pies and baking in general. It is also a common ingredient in baking spice mixes or those for mulled alcoholic drinks. It is used to flavor all sort of vegetables, from boiled sprouts to steamed spinach, and vegetable dishes. . it is an essential in béchamel, a French white sauce, and stuffing for cannelloni, ravioli, or tortellini, in Italian cuisine. Nutmeg will find its way into spicy stewed lamb dishes in the Middle East.

How to Grow Nutmeg

The nutmeg tree likes tropical climate and the sea. It is very difficult to grow out of these zones. It is a plant native to the Moluccas and New Guinea. However, now it is alwo cultivated in the West Indies and Sri Lanka. Some of the best nutmeg in the world comes from Indonesia.

Cooking with Nutmeg

Try sprinkling some grated nutmeg over plain potato mash. Cheese dishes also benefit from nutmeg when the cheese is mild flavored.

And if you are working on a recipe that lists ground or grated nutmeg among the ingredients and you don't have it at hand, use instead same amount of:

• ground mace
• ground allspice
• apple pie spice mix
• ground cinnamon
• apple pie spice mix or pumpkin spice mix.

More Cooking Suggestions

Nutmeg goes along fruits in general. Try a little grated with poached or baked apples, or summer fruits such as apricots and peaches. Nutmeg can enhance the flavor in red fruits, such as cherries, especially if cooked in wine or spirits. Nutmeg is great n fruit pie spice blends.

Many green vegetables love nutmeg; try it on such as spinach, winter or spring greens. So do love it bright and sweet flavored vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin or sweet potatoes. Eggplant, mushrooms, onions, parsnips or tomatoes also like nutmeg, add it to winter squash but not to the summer one.

Baking and nutmeg agree. Add nutmeg equally to cakes or sweet breads, and to baked ham.

Many dishes with white and less red meats, such as pork, veal, chicken, and turkey, improve with a little grated nutmeg.

For drinks, add it to your mulled wine and mulled cider recipes, or sprinkle a little over your eggnog or hot chocolate.

Most stuffing recipes and dishes that include mild cheese will improve with the addition of nutmeg.