What is nutmeg? How to use nutmeg in cooking. Useful and healing properties

Nutmeg is one of the most valued spices, known since ancient times for its beneficial and medicinal properties. In fact, it's not even a nut, but the fruit of an evergreen tropical tree called nutmeg, similar to an apricot kernel. The hard brown seeds have a pleasant warm, spicy and sweet flavor. Its properties with great benefit are used in different areas of life. The nut is used as a spice in cooking. IN folk medicine- for the treatment of many diseases. Cosmetology and perfumery have not bypassed nutmeg. It can perfectly help cope with pain, calm and relieve nervousness, and relieve insomnia.

What does nutmeg look like and where does it grow?

Nutmeg is native to the region in the Moluccas region of Indonesia. The main plantations for growing and harvesting nuts are located on Banda Island. It is grown in the Caribbean countries, on the island of Grenada. There are plantations of this spice in India in the state of Kerala, New Guinea.

The nutmeg tree is evergreen tree height from 9 to 12 meters, belongs to the Muscataceae family, which has about 10 species.

Muscatine blooms with small yellowish bell-shaped flowers with a very strong scent. The fruits are yellow with red and green spots, edible.

After planting, the tree begins to bear its first fruits in the seventh or ninth year and reaches full yield by the age of 20.

Nutmeg produces two spices at once: nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg is an oval-shaped fruit from 20 to 30 mm in length and 15-18 mm in width. The weight of one fruit is approximately 5 to 10 grams.

Macis is the dried bract that surrounds the fruit.

The first mentions of the use of nutmeg in Europe appeared in the 1st century AD. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder spoke in his writings about a tree that produces spices with two different tastes. So, at that distant time, this spicy spice somehow found its way to Europe with merchants.

It became more accessible to Europeans only six hundred years later. In those days, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg were worth their weight in gold. Many merchants, having made only one trip to the “island of spices,” made a fortune, which was enough for many years.

The Dutch at the end of the 18th century, after the conquest of the Moluccas, sharply increased the price of it, which at that time was 90 shillings per pound (450 grams). They deliberately burned entire warehouses with spices so that the price would not fall.

This continued until a Frenchman named Pierre Poivre secretly took nutmeg seedlings to the island of Mauritius. Soon after this, the British brought seedlings to their colonies: India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the island of Grenada. The expansion of plantations and growing region ended the Dutch monopoly on this and other spices.

You can harvest nuts all year round. As a rule, three harvests are harvested per year. When ripe, the shell cracks, revealing the red-skinned fruit.

The skin and the inner edible part of the nut are used for food purposes. The fruit is extracted from the pulp, which is discarded. It is then dried for several weeks to two months. After that, the shell is removed, which is sold as an independent spice called mace. Modern technologies allow to significantly reduce drying and processing times.

In cooking, nutmeg is used in powder form. In addition, essential oil is obtained from it and other parts of the tree, which is highly valued in perfumery.

Benefits of nutmeg: chemical composition

In cooking, this spice is used in small quantities, but it can still provide some benefits to the human body. So, what is it useful for and what is contained in it? chemical composition? And it contains many useful nutrients:

Vitamins: carotene, C, A, group B, including folic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine;

Minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium;

Essential oil;

Flavonoids;

Cellulose;

Carbohydrates;

The calorie content of 100 grams of nuts is 525 kcal. Fortunately, no one uses it in such quantities.

Plant chemicals present in the nut have antioxidant properties, which help eliminate toxins and promote health.

It contains trimyristin, myristicin, evengol, elemicin and other substances that give the spice a sweet, aromatic taste.

The main components of essential oil are sabinin, terpineol, linalool, pinene and other compounds that have medicinal properties.

Since ancient times, nutmeg and its oil have been used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicines for diseases related to the nervous and digestive systems. Compounds in this spice, such as myristicin and elemicin, have calming and stimulating properties for the brain. Evengol is used as an anesthetic in dental practice for toothache.

This spice is a good source of minerals, primarily copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. Potassium is an important component of body cells and fluids and helps control heart rate and blood pressure.

The human body uses manganese and copper as cofactors for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells and acts as a cofactor in the production of the enzyme cytochrome oxidase.

Nutmeg beneficial properties

People have always used the beneficial properties of nutmeg for their own benefit. Its active components have many therapeutic uses in many traditional medicines. In fact, since ancient times, nutmeg has been used as a remedy for various diseases or to improve overall health. Its main beneficial properties include:

Antifungal;

Antimicrobial;

Stimulating;

Calming;

Relaxing;

Anti-inflammatory.

Nutmeg is considered one of the powerful natural antidepressants. Here are some benefits of this aromatic spice.

Improves brain activity. Already in ancient times, the Greeks and Romans used it as a brain tonic and to relieve fatigue and stress.

If you are anxious and depressed, you should add this spice to your regular food regularly. Nutmeg calms, enhances concentration and promotes mental performance. This spice is especially useful for students and schoolchildren during exams.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Disorders such as diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain can be eliminated with the help of nutmeg. In addition, the spice stimulates the appetite.

Pain relief. Even ancient Chinese doctors prescribed nutritional supplements for stomach pain. The effect of the spices is sedative, analgesic, especially for pain associated with arthritis, ulcers, joint and muscle pain. For these same diseases, walnut essential oil is used to massage sore spots.

For bad breath. The antibacterial properties of nutmeg help fight the problem of bad breath, which is a consequence of the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Chewing a small piece of nut or rubbing nutmeg oil on your gums can help kill germs.

Cleansing the kidneys and liver. Timely cleansing of the body is important factor health. Poor nutrition, poor environment, stress, smoking, drugs, alcohol lead to the accumulation of toxins in the liver and kidneys. Nutmeg cleanses these organs well, removing waste and toxins from them. The spice is very useful for liver diseases, stimulates kidney function, and dissolves kidney stones.

In cosmetology. Nutmeg is indispensable in cosmetology. It makes the skin smooth, healthy and can solve several problems at once.

Sleep problems. If you have difficulty falling asleep, drink a cup of milk with a pinch of nutmeg. This will help you quickly fall asleep in a sound, healthy sleep.

Children who often cry at night for no apparent reason will benefit from nut powder mixed with honey.

Nutmeg is an aphrodisiac. Red wine with the addition of a pinch of spice increases sexual desire in women at any age.

Nutmeg benefits for the body

Regular use of nutmeg for preparing various dishes will improve their taste and benefit the body. Based on its composition and beneficial properties, it:

Helps with stomach upsets;

Normalizes digestion;

Eliminates bloating and flatulence;

Strengthens the immune system;

Helps thin mucus;

Relieves pain and pain syndrome;

Improves blood circulation;

Increases concentration;

Stimulates memory;

Restores and normalizes the menstrual cycle in women;

Restores potency in men;

Increases libido in women;

Helps cope with insomnia;

Relieves stress and anxiety;

Stimulates the functioning of the cardiovascular system;

Removes bad smell from mouth;

Relieves toothache.

Regular abdominal massage with nutmeg oil three weeks before giving birth is believed to ease the labor process.

For sciatica, heat sesame oil and nutmeg powder in a saucepan until Brown. Cool until comfortable temperature and apply to the sore spot as a compress or massage. Such compresses also help with rheumatism.

Nutmeg powder (about 5-15 grams) mixed with apple juice or banana is used as a specific remedy for diarrhea caused by dyspepsia.

Essential oil diluted with a carrier oil is effective for topical massage for joint pain, including rheumatic pain.

A decoction with honey is used to relieve nausea, gastritis and digestive disorders.

Possible harm and contraindications

An overdose of nutmeg can cause poisoning, which can be manifested by double vision, convulsions, and loss of orientation.

Others side effects can be:

Dizziness;

Spasms in chest and stomach;

Dry mouth;

Abdominal pain.

Consuming the spice in large doses can lead to hallucinations, seizures and even death. That's why chefs and doctors are often asked about nutmeg: how much can you add to your food? The answer is no more than three tablespoons per day.

For children, accordingly, this norm should be even less. There are no restrictions for external use.

Special precautions should be taken:

How to select and store nutmeg

In stores you can buy either whole nutmeg or in the form of ground powder. Try to buy whole nuts instead of the powdered form, as they can often be adulterated with other lower quality nutmegs.

Choose well-sealed packaging from familiar manufacturers and reputable selling companies.

The expiration date must be indicated on the packaging. This is important for spices, since all their aroma lies in essential oils, which evaporate over time.

Store whole and powdered nutmeg in a tightly closed container in a cool, dark place.

Storage nearby gas stove, batteries, heating devices, as well as near water and in the sun destroy the taste and aroma of the spice. Under proper conditions, it does not lose its taste and aroma for several months.

The whole nut retains its properties for more than long time. Therefore, it is better to buy it whole and chop it immediately before use.

Nutmeg uses in cooking

Nutmeg is used in sweet and savory dishes such as desserts, pies, custards, gingerbread, cookies, cheese sauces, soups, eggs, pasta, vegetables.

It is often used to give light-colored dishes a bright orange color, reminiscent of saffron.

You can add it to baked meat, fish, apple pies, lasagna, and mashed potatoes.

When heated, it can impart a bitter taste, so it is used to season food at the very end of cooking.

Nutmeg is sold already peeled. You just need to grate it on a special grater. If you don’t have one, then a grater with small frequent holes will do. Can be ground in a blender or meat grinder. Freshly ground nuts are added in a smaller proportion than indicated in the recipe, as its aroma and taste are more pronounced.

Nutmeg for weight loss

Nutmeg's polyunsaturated fatty acids help speed up metabolism and fat burning. Having the ability to warm the blood, the spice accelerates cellular metabolism. It is especially useful to add this spicy spice to high-calorie dishes with a high fat content. This helps minimize damage from such products.

In addition, nutmeg helps the stomach digest heavy foods faster. Nutritionists and doctors recommend adding it to salads, meat, poultry, and fish. In sweet desserts with high content sugar, honey, chocolate, the properties of the nut to burn fat, unfortunately, do not give such an effect.

ABOUT beneficial properties nutmeg is discussed in the program “Live Healthy”

Why is nutmeg dangerous in the program “About the Most Important Thing”

Nutmegs are the fruit of the nutmeg plant, a dioecious tropical tree or shrub. Externally, the fruits resemble peaches, but are ovoid in shape, the length of the fruit reaches seven centimeters. The dense peel of the orange-yellow fruit, as it ripens, opens like a chestnut, and inside there is that very spicy dark-brown seed that is so valued all over the world.

The nut itself is oval, small - up to three centimeters in diameter, with a small scar on its top. Nutmeg has become widespread everywhere thanks to its woody, spicy and sensual aroma; there are many legends about its benefits.

How is nutmeg extracted?

In industry, they use both the seed itself and the red appendages (pericarps) in which the nut is initially wrapped. First, the testicle is carefully removed and completely dried. When all the moisture has left, the seedling becomes slightly yellowish and very fragile, and also acquires a specific smell. The seedlings are sold under the name “Nutmeg color” or “Macis”, and whole dried seedlings are valued much more than broken ones.

The seed itself, initially covered with a peel, is dried in this form, after which the peel is removed and the nut is dipped in lime milk (treatment against insects and prevention of germination). The result is a nut with a wrinkled surface with a thin layer of plaque in the grooves.

Chemical composition of nutmeg

This little spice is not as simple as it seems, and contains:

• protein;
• essential oil;
• fatty nutmeg oil (up to 40% of the total mass);
• starch;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• sodium;
• magnesium;
• fluorine;
• sulfur;
• phosphorus;
• vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, E, H, and PP.

How to use nutmeg in cooking

Both nuts and mace have long been used in cooking as a constant spice to give a dish a spicy aroma. Ground nutmeg can be found in a huge number of spicy mixtures; it can be considered a unique spice.

Almost all sausages, fried and baked chicken dishes, marinated and smoked fish and a number of sauces (bechamel, bolognese) - in combination with a bouquet of other seasonings, nutmeg maximizes the taste of meat, poultry and fish.

Nutmeg spice also fragrantly complements dishes made from mushrooms and onions, potatoes and different types cabbage Nutmeg gives a special note to cakes, yeast and shortbread baked goods, as well as pastries and puddings.

Adding a pinch of ground nutmeg at the end of coffee preparation will give the drink a rich, sweet taste.

This spice is also very appropriate in mulled wine or freshly squeezed juices (especially vegetable ones).

When planning to add nutmeg to a dish, pay attention to limiting the use of the spice (for medical reasons) - one serving of the dish should not contain more than 1 gram, and for sauces - 2 grams per 1 liter of liquid.

It is better to buy whole nutmeg kernels and grate, crush or grind it directly into the dish at the last stage of its preparation (after half an hour of cooking, the aroma partially evaporates or disappears completely). It is better to season several times, in small portions, so as not to overdo it.

What spicy mixtures are “lost” without nutmeg:

• Indian garam masala;
• Siamese universal;
• French quatre epices;
• curry;
• Bolognese;
• Frankfurt;
• Moroccan Ras El Hanout;
• Tunisian galat dagga.

Both the spice itself and nutmeg oil are extremely popular.

What dishes do people around the world add nutmeg to?

• Italians - in sauces that form the basis of pizza and pasta;
• the Dutch - into meat, potato and cabbage dishes;
• the Swiss - in cheese fondue;
• Indonesians - definitely in the jam.

Remember that you need to add this spice when it is almost ready or completely cooked. ready dish, with minimal heat treatment.

The effect of nutmeg on the human body

If consumed in moderate doses, the spice will have a calming and analgesic effect, strengthen the immune system and improve memory, and also stimulate the digestive and circulatory systems.

Medicine has proven the strongest stimulating, stimulating and tonic effect of nutmeg and color on the human body.

Will nutmeg help you lose weight?

Indeed, nutmeg is used in diets. The body produces more insulin due to the uniform flow of plant acids into the blood. Digestion improves, and the feeling of hunger may disappear.

However, the statement that you can lose weight with nutmeg needs to be corrected. There really is some truth in this. Food with the addition of spices or essential oils is much easier to digest and absorbed faster. There is no feeling of heaviness in the stomach after a heavy meal and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized. But, unfortunately, nutmeg does not have a fat-burning effect.

Contraindications for nutmeg

When the spice is consumed in large quantities, the narcotic substances contained in it cause rapid heartbeat, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, loss of coordination, hallucinations, euphoria and, in especially severe cases, death.

People with an unbalanced psyche, pregnant and lactating women, and those with epilepsy should not “indulge” in nutmeg and its essential oil.

Nutmeg is the core of the fruit of the nutmeg tree, which grows in tropical countries with a humid climate. When dried, it looks like an oval-shaped brown nut, in the cross section of which you can see a pattern of chaotic stripes of dark and light shades. An exotic nut that has been used since ancient times as medicine to strengthen the brain, in the 6th century it took root in European countries, but as an aromatic spice, which was used to flavor dishes and alcoholic beverages. At the same time, it has long been known that nutmeg calms nervous system, increases appetite, treats insomnia, gastrointestinal diseases and sexual disorders. After all, it is a source of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential oils, which makes the dish not only tasty, but also healthy.

Nutmeg varieties

There are two known varieties of nutmeg - Indonesian and Grenadian. The Indonesian walnut has a bright orange color, a high concentration of essential oils, a deep rich sweet-spicy taste and aroma and, accordingly, a higher price. Indonesia is the leader in the production of this spice in the world, and Indonesian cooks even use the pulp of the nutmeg tree as food, which makes a very tasty jam.

The Grenada nut began to be grown by the British in the 18th century on the island of Grenada. Nutmeg from Grenada is different yellow peel, mild taste and more affordable price.

Cooking uses of nutmeg

Most often, nutmeg is used in the preparation of sweet dishes - desserts, cocktails and alcoholic drinks. This fragrant seasoning is indispensable for flavoring curd mass, puddings, cakes, cookies, pastries, muffins, pretzels, buns and candies. Homemade preserves, jams, jams and compotes with the addition of nutmeg are very tasty, which gives classic homemade sweets an original taste and delicate aroma. There are meat, fish, mushroom and vegetable recipes dishes with nutmeg, and in oriental cuisine this spice is often added to soups, salads, rice and sauces. Nutmeg is also used in Food Industry for cooking sausages, smoked or marinated fish, tomato paste, ketchup, cheese, mustard, for flavoring cocoa and chocolate.

Nutmeg goes amazingly with pumpkin, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, leeks and spinach, with baked fruits and berry purees, and is often used for canning mushrooms and vegetables. IN Italian cuisine Pasta with Bolognese sauce or bechamel sauce, which contains nutmeg, is very popular, and in Central Asia, nutmeg mixed with sugar is sprinkled on sliced ​​fruit. This spice is also added to mulled wine, coffee, milk, whipped cream, chocolate drinks and ice cream. In European cooking, nutmeg is most often used in German, and English cuisine. Italians add it to tortellini and ravioli fillings, and Swiss residents flavor cheese fondue with it. The spice helps digest dairy products and makes meat easier to digest.

This seasoning is part of many spicy compositions, which include Indian garam masala and curry, the French quatre epices mixture, the Moroccan composition Ras el kanout and the Tunisian qalat dagga. Nutmeg combines harmoniously with fennel, green cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice and turmeric.

How to use nutmeg

Nutmeg can be bought whole or in powder; before use, the whole nut is crushed or grated on a special grater, which many housewives have in their kitchens. Nutmeg has a very bright and strong aroma, overpowering weaker odors, and in large quantities it is harmful to health, so the recommended dose of using the spice per serving is no more than 0.1 g.

Nutmeg should be added to the dish at the end of cooking, otherwise it will acquire a bitter tint. If it is used for baking, it is recommended to add it to the dough during the kneading process. Grated fresh nutmeg is used immediately, as it very quickly loses its unique aroma.

Previously, the use of nutmeg as a seasoning for dishes was available exclusively to high-ranking persons, so nutmeg was called the royal bean. Now you can see this spice in every kitchen, and homemade apple and cherry pies without the aroma of nutmeg seem a little bland. If your family members get used to drinking warm milk with honey, nutmeg, cardamom and saffron before going to bed, they will forget about insomnia and gloomy mood in the morning!

Editor's choice: dishes with nutmeg

Nutmeg- This is the edible part of a tree of the genus “muscadine”, which in appearance resembles an apricot. The tree itself grows over the course of a century, but actively produces fruit in the first 40 years of its flowering. There are more than 10,000 fruits that a tree can produce per year. When fully ripe, the fruit falls to the ground and splits into two parts.. The taste of this fruit is very piquant and scalding, and also has a subtle and unusual aroma.

The best place for growing nutmeg turned out to be the island of Grenada. In 1796, growing records on the island were broken, and since then residents, feeling proud of their island, call it “Muscat”. Nutmeg became a national treasure and was featured twice on the island's flag.

In ancient times, the bone part of the nuts was used as a talisman or amulet. It was believed that it would help protect against the tricks of the devil and serious illnesses.For nuts, special containers were made to be carried with oneself. It was a miniature grater to make it easier to sprinkle spices on a dish. Fashionistas of those times made special jewelry from walnut. And traders in the markets, taking advantage of people’s ignorance, sold them figurines of nuts carved from wood.

Selection and storage

There is nothing difficult in choosing nutmeg powder. The main thing is that the packaging is sealed and the powder is dry and crumbly.

The spice should be used as soon as possible after opening the package to avoid loss of its taste and aroma.

Use in cooking

The use of nutmeg powder in cooking is not the least important in classical cuisine. On the shelves you can see two types of nutmeg, in the form of powder and flakes. In large-scale production, this spice is widely used in the production of confectionery, meat and drinks. Nutmeg “color” is added to milk sauces, such as alfredo, and is widely used in cooking meat, fish dishes, and seafood. It’s worth trying to add it to dishes with cottage cheese, dessert cakes, and casseroles. For the perfect end to dinner, sprinkle a handful of powder with a little sugar over cooled lemon wedges. Alcoholic drinks with a pinch of nutmeg will have a complete taste.

The seasoning must be added at the end of cooking, otherwise the result will be a slightly bitter taste. If you are preparing the dough for baking, you need to add the seasoning halfway through the process to infuse the dough with flavor. The amount of nutmeg or nutmeg should be no more than 0.1 grams per serving.

In order to grind nutmeg to a powder, you must first chop the nut with a knife into pieces smaller than a pea and put it in a pepper grinder. If you don’t have a knife at hand, you can simply wrap the nuts in a cloth and chop them with a hammer.

Beneficial features

Nutmeg powder has unlimited beneficial properties. Due to the fact that this spice contains many useful macro- and microelements, as well as vitamins. More details will be seen in the table below.

Useful properties in everyday life

The crushed fruit is a great helper on the farm. It's great at repelling bugs. It’s worth placing it in the kitchen cabinet where the cereal is, and you can forget about them for a long time. To prevent your clothes from being spoiled by moths, you need to put a couple of nutmegs in the closet with your clothes.

One of the unusual uses of the powder is its ability to hide the unwanted smell of alcohol, which is often popular among men. Regardless of the amount drunk, the effect of nutmeg powder will be noticeable within 10-15 minutes. To do this, you need to consume 1-2 roasted nuts, or 5-10 grams of powder.

Application in cosmetics

Its use in cosmetics has been known since past centuries. Girls in ancient times, having learned the properties of the aroma of spices, tried to attract the attention of men with its help, and they succeeded. Now essential oils are made from nutmeg, which, like the powder, are very useful for dry and damaged hair. Ground nut strengthens, regenerates the hair growth zone, and helps stop hair loss. To do this, you will need to prepare a tincture, which includes ½ cup of nutmeg spice, 0.5 ml of water. This entire mixture must be boiled for 10-15 minutes, and then allowed to cool and strain. Distribute the resulting tincture over damp hair, cover with a hat, and leave for 40 minutes.

Treatment with ground nutmeg

Treatment with ground nuts is becoming popular in many countries around the world. In Israel there is a clinic where, in addition to standard medicines, use products based on nutmeg.

Believe me, it is thanks to this spice that you will be able to forget about your ailments. The following table clearly shows which ones and how to deal with them.

The taste of nutmeg warms and calms the nervous system, and even trembling from the cold, brings you to a normal emotional state, improves memory, and lifts your spirits.

Harm of nutmeg to health and possible contraindications to its use

The harm of nutmeg powder lies in the fact that it contains a certain number of components that can cause hallucinations, or even lead to heart attack. Eating 3-4 seeds or 15-20 grams of powder can lead to disastrous consequences, at best severe poisoning.

If abuse occurs, symptoms such as:

• confused speech;
• intoxication;
• hallucinations;
• rapid heartbeat
• pain in the abdomen.

If you have at least one of the above symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Nutmeg is contraindicated for people with epilepsy and those who are allergic to the components contained in the powder.

It is better for pregnant girls to completely exclude nutmegs from their diet, even in powder form, while carrying a baby. The reason for all this is the component included in the product. It causes a rush of blood to the organs. Therefore, consuming it may harm you and your baby.

Western countries consider nutmeg only a seasoning. But in China they treat her specially. After all, they consider the seasoning to be a drug that is stronger than marijuana. A specific dose has not yet been established. Two types of essential oils, isosafrole and myristicin, which are part of nutmeg, have become the parent of several more types of drugs.

Nutmeg is known to many as a spice that is sold in powder form in bags in any supermarket. But what exactly is this seasoning? The fruit of the nutmeg tree has a small seed inside, the core of which is called nutmeg. Outwardly, it resembles a brownish grain with characteristic wrinkles. The spice is obtained by grinding the dried core of the nutmeg fruit drupe. What kind of spice is this, nutmeg, how is it used in cooking? In what dishes is it customary to add this spice? In what quantity? What products does it pair best with? Read more about all this for Popular Health Readers below.

A little history about the aromatic seasoning

The nutmeg tree grows in Indonesia, in some regions of South America, as well as on the islands of Borneo, Java and Sumatra. In ancient times, its fruits were used as a medicine, attributing to them, as it turned out, not without reason, miraculous properties. Already in the 6th century AD, Europe became interested in exotic fruits. Europeans began to use nutmeg as a spice, adding it to various dishes. Today, this spice is used to season baked goods, sausages and meat products, sauces and alcoholic drinks. This spice has a rich and deep sweetish taste and smell, which makes dishes tastier and more aromatic.

Nutmeg in cooking

Nutmeg is a spice that is added to sweet pastries– cookies, muffins and gingerbreads. This spice goes well with cottage cheese products - puddings and casseroles, and various desserts. The spice is often used in the production of sweets; it is ideal for flavoring chocolate and cocoa. Experienced housewives know how pleasant homemade sweet preparations from berries and fruits - jams, jams and preserves - taste if you add just a little nutmeg powder to them. In the alcohol industry, this spice is also not ignored - it is used to flavor expensive drinks. Nutmeg is an essential ingredient in the production of various types of sausages and meat products; it is often used to season fish dishes, for example, when marinating.

This seasoning has gained a special place in oriental cuisine, where it is even added to salads and boiled rice, as well as various soups and sauces. It is known that in the East gourmets love to feast on fresh fruit, sprinkled with sugar, which is mixed with grated nutmeg. Europeans are accustomed to adding this aromatic and healthy spice to ravioli fillings and flavoring cheese snacks and dishes with it. And this is very justified, because the drupe of the exotic fruit contains substances that help meat to be digested faster and dairy products to be absorbed.

It’s not for nothing that in some countries the spice is added in small quantities to whipped cream and milkshakes, and they also flavor ice cream. It will perfectly complement the taste of some vegetables - carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, spinach, and will make fruit puree more appetizing. If you want to use several spices at once when preparing a dish, then nutmeg goes well with cinnamon, cardamom, fennel, cloves, turmeric and ginger.

What are the benefits of nutmeg??

This spice is good not only because it gives foods and dishes a pleasant taste and aroma. It has significant health benefits. Nutmeg stimulates appetite, helps with digestive problems, facilitates the digestion of meat and the absorption of certain foods. This spice has a beneficial effect on brain function - improves concentration and memory. It also acts as a pain reliever.

The exotic spice is also known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties - it helps get rid of gum disease and eliminates bad breath. If you have trouble sleeping, nutmeg will be a good helper - in small doses it helps to relax and acts as a sedative and mild hypnotic. If you regularly use this spice during cooking, your body will naturally cleanse itself of toxic substances.

Use of nutmeg in folk medicine

Traditional healers recommend this spice to those who suffer from flatulence and diarrhea. For dysentery and other intestinal infections, the spice becomes one of the best antiseptics digestive tract. In folk medicine it is considered good remedy from early ejaculation, as well as from urinary incontinence in older people. It is also used for pain in the joints and lower back. However, you should know that this spice does not tolerate uncontrolled use - it is added to dishes in very small doses. Pregnant women and children under 6 years old should not get carried away with this spice.

Nutmeg is not just a flavorful seasoning, it is a gift from nature that helps you enjoy food and improve your health. If you regularly use this spice powder when preparing baked goods, casseroles, meat dishes and sauces, then you won’t have to complain about poor digestion and pain in the intestines. Thanks to the property of this supplement to remove toxins, the skin will clear and a healthy glow will appear. However, do not overdo it - this seasoning is good in moderation.