Nutmeg / জয়ফল
The hard brown seed from the nutmeg tree (a tropical evergreen)
has a warm, spicy sweet flavor. Mace is the dried lacy membrane from around the
nutmeg seed. The
nutmeg tree is indigenous to the Banda Islands of Indonesia
but is also grown in the Caribbean, especially in Grenada. The first harvest of
nutmeg trees takes place 7-9 years after planting, and the trees reach their
full potential after 20 years. At one time, nutmeg was one of the most valuable
spices. It has been said that in England, several hundred years ago, a few
nutmeg nuts could be sold for enough money to enable financial independence for
life.
What is the use of nutmeg?
Both spices come from the trees fruit, which splits into a scarlet
outer membrane, mace, and an inner brown seed, Nutmeg. Nutmeg is a mild baking
spice and is used in sausages, meats, soups, and preserves. Nutmeg is commonly
added to eggnog, puddings, and fruit pies.
What is the spice nutmeg made from?
It appears that nutmeg seed is not considered a tree nut, and
Allergists do not recommend avoiding it if you're allergic to peanuts or tree
nuts. If you notice that you develop allergy symptoms when you eat nutmeg, you
may have an allergy to certain seeds and should advise your doctor.
What is meant by nutmeg powder?
Nutmeg (also known as pala in Indonesia) is one of the two spices
– the other being mace – derived from several species of tree in the genus
Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an
evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas (or Spice
Islands) of Indonesia.
Is nutmeg a drink?
Probably because he didn't eat, smoke, or drink enough. Nutmeg and
its sister spice, mace—the seed and the membrane that covers it, respectively,
from the Myristica fragrans tree—both contain a substance called myristicin. A
potent narcotic compound, it can cause hallucinations when eaten in large
amounts.
Nutmeg (also known as pala in Indonesia) is one of the two spices
– the other being mace – derived from several species of tree in the genus
Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an
evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas (or Spice
Islands) of Indonesia.
Nutmeg is the seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 to
30 mm (0.8 to 1.2 in) long and 15 to 18 mm (0.6 to 0.7 in) wide, and weighing
between 5 and 10 g (0.2 and 0.4 oz) dried, while mace is the dried
"lacy" reddish covering or aril of the seed. The first harvest of
nutmeg trees takes place 7–9 years after planting, and the trees reach full
production after twenty years. Nutmeg is usually used in powdered form. This is
the only tropical fruit that is the source of two different
spices, obtained
from different parts of the plant. Several other commercial products are also
produced from the trees, including essential oils, extracted oleoresins, and
nutmeg butter.
Nutmeg and mace have similar sensory qualities, with nutmeg having
a slightly sweeter and mace a more delicate flavour. Mace is often preferred in
light dishes for the bright orange, saffron-like hue it imparts. Nutmeg is used
for flavouring many dishes, usually in ground or grated form, and is best
grated fresh in a nutmeg grater.
Indonesian manisan pala (nutmeg sweets)
In Indonesian cuisine, nutmeg is used in various dishes, mainly in
many spicy soups, such as some variant of soto, konro, oxtail soup, sup iga
(ribs soup), bakso and sup kambing. It is also used in gravy for meat dishes,
such as semur beef stew, ribs with tomato, to European derived dishes such as
bistik (beef steak), rolade (minced meat roll) and bistik lidah (beef tongue
steak). Sliced nutmeg fruit flesh could be made as manisan (sweets), either
wet, which is seasoned in sugary syrup liquid, or dry coated with sugar.
In Penang cuisine, dried, shredded nutmeg rind with sugar coating
is used as toppings
on the uniquely Penang ais kacang. Nutmeg rind is also
blended (creating a fresh, green, tangy taste and white colour juice) or boiled
(resulting in a much sweeter and brown juice) to make iced nutmeg juice.
In Indian cuisine, nutmeg is used in many sweet, as well as
savoury, dishes (predominantly in Mughlai cuisine). In Kerala Malabar region,
it is considered medicinal and the flesh made into juice, pickles and chutney,
while the grated nutmeg is used in meat preparations and also sparingly added
to desserts for the flavour. It is also added in
small quantities as a medicine
for infants. It may also be used in small quantities in garam masala. Ground nutmeg
is also smoked in India.
In Middle Eastern cuisine, ground nutmeg is often used as a spice
for savoury dishes.
In traditional European cuisine, nutmeg and mace are used
especially in potato dishes and in processed meat products; they are also used
in soups, sauces, and baked goods. It is also commonly used in rice pudding. In
Dutch cuisine, nutmeg is added to vegetables such as Brussels sprouts,
cauliflower, and string beans. Nutmeg is a traditional ingredient in mulled
cider, mulled wine, and eggnog. In Scotland, mace and nutmeg are usually both
ingredients in haggis.
In Italian cuisine, nutmeg is used as part of the stuffing for
many regional meat-filled dumplings like tortellini, as well as for the
traditional meatloaf.
Japanese varieties of curry powder include nutmeg as an
ingredient.
In the Caribbean, nutmeg is often used in drinks such as the
Bushwacker, Painkiller, and Barbados rum punch. Typically, it is just a
sprinkle on the top of the drink.
The pericarp (fruit/pod) is used in Grenada and also in Indonesia
to make jam, or is finely sliced, cooked with sugar, and crystallised to make a
fragrant candy.
In the US, nutmeg is known as the main pumpkin pie spice and often
shows up in
simple recipes for other winter squashes such as baked acorn
squash.
Nutmeg butter is obtained from the nut by expression. It is
semisolid, reddish-brown in colour, and tastes and smells of nutmeg. About 75%
(by weight) of nutmeg butter is trimyristin,[citation needed] which can be
turned into myristic acid, a 14-carbon fatty acid, which can be used as a
replacement for cocoa butter, can be mixed with other fats like cottonseed oil
or palm oil, and has applications as an industrial lubricant.
While nutmeg is only a spice that is used sparingly in dishes, it
can still impact your health in a variety of ways, mainly due to its nutritive
content of vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds related to the essential
oils. These beneficial components include dietary fiber, manganese, thiamin,
vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, copper, and macelignan.
Nutrition Facts
Nutmeg, ground
Amount Per 1 tbsp (7 g)
Calories 37
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2.5
g 3%
Saturated fat 1.8
g 9%
Polyunsaturated fat 0
g
Monounsaturated fat
0.2 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 1
mg 0%
Potassium 25
mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate
3.5 g 1%
Dietary fiber 1.5
g 6%
Sugar 2 g
Protein 0.4
g 0%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1% Iron 1%
Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 0%
Vitamin B-12 0% Magnesium 3%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie
diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Health Benefits Of Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a popular spice that has a long list of associated
health benefits, including its ability to relieve pain, soothe indigestion,
strengthen cognitive function, detoxify the body, boost skin health, alleviate
oral conditions, reduce insomnia, increase immune system function, and prevent
leukemia, and improve blood circulation.
Nutmeg is one of two spices that grow on an evergreen tree with
the scientific classification Myristica fragrans, also known as common nutmeg.
It is native to islands near Indonesia, but is now a globally used spice. These
trees bear nutmeg, which is the seed of the tree, as well as mace, a less
common spice derived from the dried reddish shell of the seed. This is the only
tree which is the source of two distinct spices in the world. It is commonly
grown in the Caribbean, other tropical areas of the world, and in Southern
India, in the state of Kerala.
Nutmeg is a delicate, slightly sweet spice that is widely used in
cuisines around the world, including both Asian and western recipes. The tree
is also highly valued because of the essential oils that are derived from the
tree and leaves, and nutmeg butter is also a popular derivative food that packs
a healthy punch. The essential oils from nutmeg extract are highly beneficial
to health, and are frequently used in alternative and herbal medicine.
Pain Relief: One of the components of nutmeg
is a compound similar to menthol, which has natural pain-relieving
characteristics. Therefore, by adding nutmeg as a spice in your cooking, you
can reduce associated pain from wounds, injuries, strains, and chronic
inflammation from conditions like arthritis.
Digestive Health: When you
grind nutmeg into a powder, it retains its fiber content, which can stimulate
the digestive process by promoting peristaltic motion in the smooth muscles of
the intestine. Also, it induces the secretion of various gastric and intestinal
juices that ease the digestive process. Since fiber can bulk up the bowel
movements, it reduces the frequency and discomfort of constipation and other
intestinal issues.
Nutmeg for Brain Health: One of the
lesser known benefits of adding nutmeg in any variety to your diet are the
various components of its essential oil, called myristicin and macelignan.
These compounds have been proven to reduce the degradation of neural pathways
and cognitive function that commonly afflicts people with dementia or
Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown myristicin and macelignan slow those
effects, and keep your brain functioning at a normal, healthy level.
Detoxify the Body: Nutmeg acts
as a tonic in many different ways, and therefore boosts the overall health of
your body. More specifically, in terms of the liver and kidney
where many of
the toxins are stored and accumulated from the body, nutmeg can help eliminate
them. It literally cleans those organs out of all the toxins that may be stored
there from alcohol, drugs, pollution, food, or natural organic toxins.
Furthermore, active ingredients in nutmeg help to dissolve kidney stones, and
increase overall function and efficiency of the kidney and liver.
Oral Health: In traditional medical
applications, nutmeg was considered the king of spices when it came to oral
health. The active antibacterial components of
nutmeg means that it helps to
fight conditions like halitosis, also known as bad breath. It kills the
bacteria that causes this embarrassing condition, and generally boosts the
immunity of your gums and teeth. This is why nutmeg and its extracts are
commonly found in toothpastes and mouthwashes, particularly in organic or
herbal varieties.
Insomnia: For generations, nutmeg has been
recommended as a home remedy for sleeplessness and insomnia. A pinch of nutmeg
in warm milk always seemed to do the trick. Nutmeg has a high content of
magnesium,
an essential mineral in the body that reduces nerve tension, and
even stimulates the release of serotonin which creates a feeling of relaxation
or sedation. This serotonin is changed to melatonin in the brain, which is a
sleep inducer, relieving people of their problems with insomnia and
restlessness at night. Nutmeg also has trace elements of narcotics, which have
no dramatic effect unless taken in massive quantities. However, even the small
amount can help you release various neurotransmitters than induce relaxation
and sleep.
Leukemia: Another of the lesser known
qualities of nutmeg is its potential use against cancerous cells. Studies have
shown that a certain methanolic compound in nutmeg and its essential oil can
actually induce cell death (apoptosis) in leukemia cells, thereby stopping the
spread and metastasis of this terrible variety of cancer that commonly afflicts
children.
nutmeginfoSkin Health: Although the exact mechanism is not fully
understood, herbal and traditional medicines have long used nutmeg to boost the
appearance and health of your skin. Most commonly, it is applied as paste mixed
with water, or even honey, which is also great for skin care. It can help to
reduce inflammation and irritation of the skin, promote hydration and a smooth
appearance, as well as reduce the signs and marks from pox, boils, and acne.
Blood Pressure and Circulation: The mineral
content of nutmeg means that it is valuable in terms of maintaining organ
function. Potassium is a vasodilator, which relaxes blood vessels, thereby
reducing blood pressure and lowering the strain on the cardiovascular system.
Furthermore, it facilitates the uptake of nutrients from food, making digestion
and efficient and speedy process. The calcium found in nutmeg can boost the
health of your bones by contributing to repair and growth, while relieving
symptoms of osteoporosis. Finally, the iron content can boost your red blood
cell count and reduce your chances of developing symptoms of iron deficiency,
also known as anemia.
A Few Words of Warning: Nutmeg has come under considerable suspicion since the cases of
accidental poisoning have increased in recent years. Once it was revealed that
excessively consuming nutmeg can have psychotropic, hallucinatory, or narcotic
effects on people, many people tried to duplicate those effects recreationally.
Unfortunately, consuming a huge amount of nutmeg can seriously complicate your
bodily processes, as it is a potent spice meant to be used in small quantities.
Consuming too much nutmeg can result in seizures, irregular heart palpitations,
and vomiting.
When used appropriately, as a spice, the benefits of nutmeg are
obvious, but keep the amount under control, and find your thrills somewhere
else!
Banana and Nutmeg Smoothie
Easy to make ninja smoothie recipe, just cut your bananas, add
other ingredients and blend your favourite smoothie today !
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana, chopped
2 tablespoons low fat natural yogurt 1-2 teaspoons honey
180ml cold milk
Nutmeg
Directons:
1. Place all ingredients, except nutmeg, into your Ninja blender
and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a tall glass, sprinkle with nutmeg and serve
immediately. For a delicious nutty taste, try adding 1 tablespoon of slivered
almonds to the blender.
Pineapple Nutmeg Detox Smoothie
Ingredients
1/2 cup Baby Carrots
1 cup Pineapple, fresh or frozen, cut in large chunks
1/4 cup Banana, use overripe banana, mashed well, and packed
tightly into the measuring cup
2 Tbsp Coconut Milk, (full fat is best)
1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground Cinnamon
3/4 cup Pineapple Juice, or less, if you want a thicker smoothie.
Process
Place the carrots in a microwave-safe bowl and cover 3/4 high with
water. Cover the bowl and microwave on high for 3 minutes, or until softened.
Drain the water and allow carrots to cool until they are at least comfortable
to touch, and ideally at room temperature.
Combine all of the ingredients in your blender and puree on the
high/liquify setting until smooth. Add more liquid as needed to keep things
moving, and/or more spices to taste.
Pour into your glass, garnish with granola (see note) and a
dusting of nutmeg if desired, and serve immediately.
Banana-Nutmeg Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
3 bananas, ripe but firm, broken into pieces
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 cup ice cubes
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
In a blender, combine bananas, broken into pieces, with milk, and
puree until smooth.
Add to the fruit mixture yogurt, ice cubes, and nutmeg, and blend
until the ice is finely crushed and the drink is frothy. Serve immediately.
Spicy Nutmeg Carrots
Ingredients
1 package (16 ounces) baby carrots
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg, Ground
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Salt
1/8 teaspoon Red Pepper, Ground
Directions
Cook carrots until become soft.
Mix butter, nutmeg, garlic salt and red pepper in small bowl. Pour
over carrots; toss to coat well. Serve immediately.
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