How to Cook with Nutmeg

The popular sweet spice of the nutmeg tree is used all over the world in various dishes like cheese sauces, sweet curries and processed meats. Its flavor complements many baked dishes. Many bakers cook with nutmeg to give pastries or sauces an enigmatic and exotic taste.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find out whether your recipe would benefit from nutmeg. Unless the recipe specifically states nutmeg as an ingredient, don't add it. Nutmeg isn't an experimental type of spice like salt or pepper.

2. Expert cooks recommend grating whole nutmeg seeds for the freshest flavor. One whole nutmeg should yield about 2 to 3 teaspoons of grated nutmeg.

3. Use small amounts. Otherwise, the nutmeg can overpower a dish. If the ratio is not specified in your recipe, add a little at a time.

4. Adding nutmeg early in the cooking process can help distribute the spice more evenly into the dish.

5. Store the remainder away from light and heat. Dried or powdered nutmeg can keep for a long time in the right conditions.

Tips & Warnings

• In ancient times, nutmeg was an important and popular culinary item. It was also thought to have aphrodisiac qualities and was used in love elixirs (and probably in witches' brews). Keep this is mind if you want to avoid your nutmeg recipes having an undesired effect!
• Another disclaimer involves the potency of high doses: over 30g of nutmeg can create a psychotropic or hallucinatory effect, accompanied by very uncomfortable side effects like dry mouth and digestive difficulties. Do NOT ingest nutmeg in excess.

Who Can Help:

• Guaranteed: Lose 30+ lbs without dieting. Try Sensa Today

Resources

• Encyclopedia of Spices including Nutmeg
• Information on the holistic effects of nutmeg