Tuesday, August 10, 2010

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.


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.

Tags: whole nutmeg, your recipe