Nutmeg is the rarest of spices. Its woody balls are the stones or pips of fruits that plump from the nutmeg tree, the beautifully named Myristica fragrans. You can eat the fruit, too, if you’re lucky enough to get it: in Sulawesi they sugar it, then dry it in the sun so it partially ferments.
Is the fruit around nutmeg edible?
Myristica fragrans, normally thought of as just the receptacle from which the valuable spices nutmeg and mace are extracted, does have edible flesh, sometimes referred to as the ‘fruit-wall’.
How do you use nutmeg fruit?
It goes well with bread and can even be used as a topping on cereal. The juice, my mom told me, is made of nutmeg fruit concentrate with lemon and ginger juice added. It is then blended with sugar, ice cubes and water to get the frothy refreshing drink.
What part of nutmeg do we eat?
The fruit is a pendulous drupe, similar in appearance to an apricot. When fully mature it splits in two, exposing a crimson-coloured aril, the mace, surrounding a single shiny brown seed, the nutmeg. The pulp of the fruit is eaten locally.
Is nutmeg a fruit or nut?
No! Although the word nutmeg contains the word “nut,” it is not related to peanuts or tree nuts. It is a dried seed, which is ground to make a spice.
How do you eat fresh nutmeg?
Whole nutmeg can be freshly ground and added to dishes with a microplane or grater, but the spice is also available already ground. Nutmeg is a common ingredient in many cuisines, including European and Indian. There are many ways to add nutmeg to your diet, including: Add it to coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or warm milk.
What fruit does nutmeg come from?
Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica. Myristica fragrans (fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg) is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, and mace, from the seed covering.
Is nutmeg a Viagra?
Nutmeg also known as jaiphal is an aromatic spice used in several delicacies, but you would be surprised to known that this spice can not only add a burst of flavours to your drinks and delicacies, but its sweet aroma works as an enticing aphrodisiac spice, which is also known as viagra for women, according to a …
Is nutmeg banned in US?
Not banned in: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, or basil, where it occurs naturally. Some southeast Asian countries still allow its import and export. 4.
Is nutmeg cancerous?
2 Myristicin can be found in a number of other spices and plants but is present in higher amounts in nutmeg. Ingestion of small amounts of nutmeg is harmless to the body, including the amounts called for in all standard recipes.
Do you peel nutmeg?
You do not need to peel, cut or toast whole nutmeg seeds before preparing them. Grate the nutmeg with a microplaner, the smallest holes of a standard cheese grater or a specialized nutmeg grinder. For maximum potency, grate only as much nutmeg as you need to use immediately.
How do you cook nutmeg?
To cook with whole nutmeg, use a nutmeg grater, pepper mill, or microplane to grate off a small amount of the seed into your dish. Nutmeg also pairs well with creamy sauces and cheesy dishes, such as bechamel, alfredo sauce, and soufflés, which benefit from the spice’s subtle heat.
What is the taste of nutmeg?
Whole or ground, nutmeg tastes nutty, warm, and slightly sweet. It’s reminiscent of clove and tobacco and can even have subtle citrusy notes.
Can I eat nutmeg with a nut allergy?
The answer is yes. Despite its name, nutmeg isn’t a nut. It’s really a seed. If you have a nut allergy, you may be able to eat nutmeg without any risk of an allergic reaction.
Is nutmeg related to cinnamon?
As cinnamon is often sold ground up in a powder, you can simply substitute the same amount of nutmeg for cinnamon. Nutmeg is also great for sweet dishes. Nutmeg is a very similar spice to cinnamon. But it is still quite different from cinnamon.
Can you eat nutmeg shell?
Tastes bright, earthy and pungent. Grab a nutcracker or a small hammer to break open the shell, then use a cheese grater to grate the inside pit over your food. Can use as a finishing spice to sprinkle over dishes, or mix into food being cooked.
How long does a nutmeg nut last?
Properly stored, whole nutmeg will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 4 years. To maximize the shelf life of whole nutmeg purchased in bulk, and to better retain flavor and potency, store in containers with tight-fitting lids.
Do you peel nutmeg before grating?
Peel away the shell and then finely grate the whole nutmeg seed at a forty-five-degree angle. Nut grinder method: You can substitute a nut mill for a microplane grater and get a similarly fine batch of grated nutmeg. Peel away the nutmeg shell and load the whole seed or seeds into the nutmeg grinder.
How do you crack open nutmeg?
Take your whole nutmeg and crack the shell open by smashing it. I find that pressing the nutmeg on a wood cutting board with the flat edge of a knife the best way to crack the shell. Peel away the shell completely from the nutmeg. Hold your grater at about a forty-five degree angle.
Why was nutmeg so valuable?
So, why was nutmeg so valuable? Well, Krondl likens it to the iPhone of the 1600s. It was fashionable among the wealthy. It was exotic and potent enough to induce hallucinations — or at least a nutmeg bender, as detailed in this account from The Atlantic.
Why is it called nutmeg?
Why do they call it a nutmeg when a footballer kicks a ball through his opponent’s legs? It’s rhyming slang for legs. Through the nutmegs, through the legs – you’ve been nutmegged.
What is nutmeg used for in cooking?
Cooking with nutmeg
It complements meat well and goes great with root vegetables and winter squash. You can use it when making hearty soups or stews. And nutmeg is just as great for baking as it is for cooking. It’s a key ingredient in many desserts, including pumpkin pie, custards, and egg nog during the holidays.
What essential oil turns a woman on?
Some essential oils with possible aphrodisiac effects for women include: clary sage. lavender. sandalwood.
Why is nutmeg banned?
Elemicin is another compound found in nutmeg and is also a known hallucinogen. … Nutmeg also contains a weak carcinogen called safrole, which has been named as a contributor to the overall incidence of cancer, so much so that it has been banned as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration.
Is nutmeg a psychotropic?
When taken deliberately as psychotropics, nutmeg and mace often cause reactions quite unlike those described in classical accounts of Myristica poisoning and much more like experiences with Cannabis or other hallucinogenic drugs.
Does nutmeg thin your blood?
Other spices similar to cinnamon may be risky to use if you’re taking a blood thinner. Cloves, ginger and nutmeg, for example, are all anti-coagulants, as they inhibit the platelet activity responsible for blood clotting, according to the California Pacific Medical Center.
Can you eat nutmeg everyday?
But nutmeg is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken in doses larger than amounts found in foods and for long periods of time. Long-term use of nutmeg in doses of 120 mg or more daily has been linked to hallucinations and other mental side effects.
Does nutmeg make you sleepy?
A natural chemical called trimyristin found in nutmeg is responsible for inducing sleep, relaxing your tired muscles and nerves and set in a sense of calm.
What is inside a nutmeg?
Nutmeg is a spice made from the seed of the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrant), a native Indonesian evergreen tree that is the source of two popular spices: nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg is the inner seed, while mace is the red, lace-like substance that covers the seed.
Can you grind nutmeg in a coffee grinder?
A coffee grinder can grind nuts and spices, turning whole spices like nutmeg or cumin seeds into a fine powder. While blade grinders can grind nuts and spices in smaller batches, burr grinders can turn larger quantities into fine grinds. You can also grind herbs, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese.
What does whole nutmeg look like?
Whole nutmeg is small, about the size of a plum pit, and is usually sold with 6 to 8 seeds per jar. Grate the seeds for just the amount you need, using a microplane or spice grinder. Unlike ground nutmeg, this variety, lasts indefinitely as long as its stored properly.
Does nutmeg need to be cooked?
Once it is ground, nutmeg soon loses the oils which provide its flavor and taste, so grating fresh, whole nutmeg is recommended to achieve the full benefit of the fresh oils. … Freshly-grated nutmeg should ideally be added at the end of the cooking process since heat diminishes the flavor.
How do you cut nutmeg?
How To Grate Nutmeg – YouTube
What fruit goes well with nutmeg?
Sprinkle nutmeg onto raw or cooked apples, bananas, peaches, nectarines, pears, pineapple or mango. Cut up several fruits to make a mixed fruit salad, dust the fruit with nutmeg, and squeeze a little fresh lemon evenly onto the dish.
What does nutmeg do to Alfredo sauce?
Nutmeg provides the secret ingredient in fettuccine Alfredo or any cream sauce, and it gives an extra nip that elevates the taste of eggnog.
Can I be allergic to nutmeg?
Allergy to nutmeg exists in its own right, but the incidence is rare. In a French study, allergy tests to spices were carried out in 589 patients with food allergy and suspected allergy to spices.
What foods to avoid if you have a nut allergy?
Foods to Avoid When You Have Nut Allergies
- Nut butters: Almond, cashew, peanut, and others.
- Nut pastes. These include products like marzipan, almond paste, and nougat.
- Nut oils. …
- Hydrolyzed plant or vegetable protein. …
- Peanut flour.
- Nut extracts, like almond extract.
What’s the closest thing to nutmeg?
8 Great Substitutes for Nutmeg
- Mace. Mace is the best option if you’re looking for a replacement for nutmeg, as both spices come from the Myristica fragrans tree. …
- Garam masala. …
- Allspice. …
- Cinnamon. …
- Pumpkin pie spice. …
- Apple pie spice. …
- Ginger. …
- Cloves.
Which is healthier cinnamon or nutmeg?
In recent research, cinnamon has been found to decrease blood sugar, triglyceride levels, and cholesterol in Type II diabetics. … Nutmeg has been found to have similar health benefits as cinnamon in that it has been shown decrease nausea. It has been used as an antidiarrheal and to decrease stomachaches.
Which is stronger cinnamon or nutmeg?
Nutmeg is a completely different spice than cinnamon, with a complex flavor that is entirely different. It is also stronger than cinnamon. If you used the same amount, the taste will be overpowering. Nutmeg is best appreciated in small quantities.