Nutmeg is a tasty add-on for any creamy dish, from mac and cheese to potato gratin to creamed spinach. It’s delicious with buttered vegetables like broccoli, sweet potatoes and carrots, too.
What does nutmeg go well with?
Slightly sweeter than mace, nutmeg is essential to bechamel sauce and also goes well with baked or stewed fruit, custards, eggnog, punches, curries, sauces (particularly onion-based and milk sauces), pasta, and vegetables (especially spinach).
Why is nutmeg used in mac and cheese?
Nutmeg’s penetrating flavour helps it cut through otherwise heavy dishes, a popular example is grating whole nutmeg into rich macaroni cheese or other hearty pasta dishes. Nutmeg is also a common flavouring in festive drinks such as eggnog and mulled wine and cider.
What spices go best in mac and cheese?
Cayenne, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, and Dry Mustard
These spices will cut through the hearty flavor of the cheese and butter. Simply add ½ teaspoons of cayenne, black pepper, and dry mustard with a dash of nutmeg to a mixture of 1 egg and 1 cup (0.24 l) of heavy cream.
What can I add to mac and cheese for flavor?
Best Mac and Cheese Seasoning
- Garlic and Onion Powder.
- Oregano.
- Basil.
- Marjoram.
- Paprika.
- Cayenne Pepper.
- Chili Powder.
- Nutmeg.
What flavor does nutmeg give?
nutty flavor
A popular spice available in both ground and whole form, nutmeg is known for its warm, nutty flavor, making it the perfect addition to comforting sweet and savory dishes. Once ground, nutmeg spice takes on a warm and aromatic flavor with notes of clove.
Is nutmeg used in savory dishes?
Nutmeg is also frequently used in savory meat-based dishes, where it subtly enhances and rounds out the flavor. You’ll see it in sausage mixes, lasagnas, and ragus. Nutmeg also pairs very well with winter squash and dark leafy greens.
What spice compliments cheese?
Cheese Sauce Make-Over – Make it Spicy!
| Cheese | Spices |
|---|---|
| Sharp Cheddar | Caraway, celery seeds, chili powder, cumin, paprika, red pepper |
| Blue Cheese & Gorgonzola | Basil, black pepper, fennel, garlic powder, ginger, thyme |
| Parmesan | Bay, basil, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, oregano |
| Brie | Caraway, celery seeds, chives, rosemary, sage |
What can I use instead of nutmeg in mac and cheese?
Nutmeg is frequently featured in stews, macaroni and cheese, and curries. Substitute nutmeg with cinnamon, mace, or allspice. Since it is also found in some spice mixes, these also serve as good alternatives in a pinch: pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice.
What goes well with mac and cheese?
what goes with mac and cheese – main dishes and sides
- Meatloaf.
- BBQ Pulled Chicken or Pork.
- Coleslaw.
- Applesauce.
- Grilled meats – chicken, pork, or steak.
- Sloppy Joes.
- Cornbread.
- Brussels Sprouts.
Why is my mac and cheese bland?
Not salting the pasta water
Not adding salt to your water leads to bland, tasteless noodles. This, in turn, leads to a finished product that is flavorless even after adding the cheese sauce. You could end up having to overseason a part of your dish to make up for the bland pasta.
What cheese is best in mac and cheese?
Best Cheeses to Use in Mac and Cheese
- Cheddar. Cheddar is a staple for countless recipes.
- Parmesan. Parmesan is a salty cheese with complex flavors.
- Gruyere. Update your mac and cheese recipes to something more mature with Gruyere.
- Brie.
- Smoked Gouda.
- Monterey Jack.
- Fontina.
How do you spice up shells and cheese?
Here are a few of my favorite ways to upgrade boxed mac and cheese in three ingredients or fewer:
- Broccoli + Shredded Chicken.
- Bacon + Peas + Egg.
- Garlic + Pickled Jalapeños.
- Mushrooms + Thyme + Grated Gruyère.
- Pesto + Sun-Dried Tomatoes.
- Kimchi + Bacon + Chopped Scallions.
- Cherry Tomatoes + Basil + Mozzarella.
How can I improve my cheese flavor?
Other common additions to help offset the lack of flavour in poorly-aged cheeses are:
- Salt. Remember, salt is essentially a flavour enhancer and will bring out the natural taste of any other ingredient.
- Mustard.
- Ground cayenne or red pepper.
How do you add flavor to cheese?
By approaching cheese making as one would cooking, we might add herbs, spices, dried fruits or mushrooms to the curds. We can also add flavor in a more subtle way by infusing the milk with dried mushrooms, saffron, dried lavender, coriander, or other ingredients before making the curds.
What spices can you put in macaroni?
Basic spices that you may already have in your pantry that would work well include red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, chili, onion, and garlic powder. If you’re willing to take a trip to the store, spices like cumin, curry powder, dry mustard, and paprika are all wonderful additions.
What does nutmeg do for a man?
Some animal studies show that nutmeg may enhance sex drive and performance. In one study, male rats that were given high doses of nutmeg extract (227 mg per pound or 500 mg per kg of body weight) experienced significant increases in sexual activity and sexual performance time compared to a control group ( 13 ).
How important is nutmeg in a recipe?
Nutmeg’s popularity stems from its many uses in cooking. Its nutty and sweet flavor lends well to savory and sweet dishes alike, including casseroles, soups, eggnog, lattes, and pies. If you’re running low on this spice or don’t enjoy the flavor, you may wonder which other spices you can use in its place.
Why was nutmeg so important?
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.
What meat can you use nutmeg for?
Besides being an exotic spice, nutmeg is grouped under the category of aphrodisiacs, and in cooking, only small quantities – such as a little grating or a pinch of the ground powder – are used to make soups, meat gravies, beef stew, steaks, roulades, and even desserts.
What does nutmeg do to a sauce?
Seasoning sauces
Nutmeg contributes a deep, nutty, and somewhat sweet flavor to anything it is added to. As such, it is fantastic in sauces, both savory and sweet! Some of the most common it enhances are cream sauces and include béarnaise and the base for stroganoff, but don’t stop there!