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Herb & Spice Encyclopedia Index

Nutmeg

A native to the Spice Islands, this is one of the sought-after spices that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in search of. These days, Indonesia and Grenada are the world's main sources of mace and nutmeg. Mace is often mentioned alongside nutmeg because both spices actually come from the same fruit. Nutmeg comes from the nut of the fruit's dried pit, while mace is the thick membrane which surrounds the nut's shell.

While mace is generally restricted to savory dishes, nutmeg is well suited to both sweet and savory fare.

Nutmeg tastes like the holidays, and most people add it to holiday spirits like mulled wine, eggnog and cider, as its warm, sweet flavor is a pleasant addition. In addition to holiday beverages, baked sweets and puddings, nutmeg is often paired with cheese dishes and fillings and creamy sauces. Also try adding it to creamed spinach and mashed potatoes.

Nutmeg is available both whole and ground. The nut is especially hard, so you'll need a little elbow grease and a nutmeg grater if you want it freshly grated. But the flavor is phenomenal, so it's well worth the trouble, especially for use in mild dishes like puddings and cheese sauces. If you don't have a nutmeg grater, use the smallest grate on a regular grater. For a convenient compromise, buy nutmeg in one of the new grater bottles, which feature chipped nutmeg pieces in a bottle with a grinder lid, which works like a pepper grinder.


Grate nutmeg with the finest blades of your grater. Or, special nutmeg graters are available in gourmet stores.


Spicerack-type nutmeg "mills" like this one freshly grind nutmeg chunks, giving you a nice compromise between the convenience of ground and the flavor of freshly ground.

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