Nutmeg

About

Nutmeg is a versatile spice that can soften the sweetness of rich, creamy dishes or the bitterness of cruciferous vegetables. Mace, the outer coating of the nutmeg seed, shares the same flavor compounds in different proportions and contains slightly more essential oil, so the two can generally be used interchangeably, though fresh nutmeg or mace is preferable to pre-ground versions. Nutmeg is easier to grate than mace and is typically the cheaper of the two.

Pairs well with nutmeg

• EaPotatoNutmeg is often used to mask some of potato's more earthy, raw-tasting notes, much as it's used with pumpkin or spinach, a small amount is…
• SuEggEggnog, rum, brandy or marsala shaken with milk, egg yolk and ice, then topped with grated nutmeg, and eggnog tart, a nutmeg-spiced…
• FrTomatoIn Bologna, nutmeg is used to soften the sharp acidity tomato brings to a ragù.
• FrAppleNutmeg's rich, warm freshness lifts plain warm apple purée, a light grating over the top, served with vanilla ice cream, is a simple way…
• RoChocolateMilk chocolate, being richer and less complex than dark, benefits from nutmeg, which boosts its flavor and offsets its sweetness, much as…
• MaShellfishNutmeg, sometimes combined with mace (nutmeg's lacy outer shell), is a traditional seasoning for potted shrimp.
• FfVanillaElizabeth David noted that fresh bay leaves taste somewhat of nutmeg and vanilla and work well in sweet cream, as in bay leaf panna cotta.
• GrAvocadoAvocado and nutmeg both carry an aphrodisiac reputation, avocado's vitamin B6 is linked to testosterone production, and nutmeg has its own…
• ChHard CheeseNutmeg's crisp, complex flavor, a mix of pine, floral, citrus and peppery notes from a compound called myristicin, suits fatty foods like…
• MeLambIn Greek cooking, minced lamb flavored with warm, peppery nutmeg forms the base of moussaka sauce, also used with pasta in dishes like…
• SuOnionNutmeg's subtle bitterness balances the sweetness of onion.
• SuCauliflowerCauliflower became popular in France under Louis XIV, who favored it boiled in stock, seasoned with nutmeg and served with melted butter.
• EaCeleryMany nineteenth-century celery sauce recipes were seasoned with nutmeg or mace, though some contemporary writers considered this…
• SuCabbageFreshly grated nutmeg brightens cooked cabbage or sprouts, especially finished with butter.
• EaEggplantFreshly grated nutmeg (not pre-ground) enhances fried eggplant.
• MaOysterNutmeg is a traditional seasoning for cooked oyster dishes, especially creamy ones, and features in oyster loaves, said to originate in…
• WoButternut SquashNutmeg adds interest to butternut squash's mild sweetness, used in Italian pumpkin-and-ricotta pasta fillings, American pumpkin pies and…
• SpParsnipParsnip's flavor is partly reminiscent of nutmeg because it contains myristicin, a compound also central to nutmeg's flavor, most…
• GrSaffronBoth spice traditional Cornish saffron cake, a bread-like loaf historically eaten on Good Friday with clotted cream.
• SuRutabagaRutabaga, thought to be a hybrid of cabbage and turnip, shares both parents' affinity for nutmeg.