7 Best Nutmeg Substitutes For Any Dish, Sweet Or Savory
Nutmeg is one of those spices that can make or break a dish. You can add it into an Alfredo sauce for that little something extra no one can seem to pick out, or grate it over an eggnog to amp up the holiday vibes.
But maybe you're in the middle of cooking your fave holiday dessert or best-ever chili, and you realize you're fresh out of the good stuff. No need to worry. If you have a semi-stocked spice cabinet, you've probably got a substitute that will work great.
First off, nutmeg is a spice that comes from the nutmeg tree, called the Myristica fragrans. The round, sorta nut thing you're used to seeing when you buy whole nutmeg is actually the seed from the tree's fruit. After it has been dried for six to eight weeks, the seed shrinks away from its hard outer coating, rattling around inside once it's ready to be removed. Then, the seed is ground into a powder or sold whole.
Now that you understand what nutmeg is, here are a few other products you can swap it for.
Mace
Mace is the closest spice to nutmeg because they're sort of one and the same; "mace" is the term for the ground-up powder of nutmeg's hard, outer seed coating. Replace with a one-to-one substitution in any dish.
Cinnamon
This spice gives the same effect of nutmeg, warming up whatever dish you add it to whether it's sweet or spicy. Cinnamon does have a much stronger flavor though, so try replacing nutmeg with half the amount of cinnamon. You can always add more in gradually if you think the dish can handle it.
Ground Cloves
Ground cloves have a very intense sweet, spicy, and peppery flavor to them, which is perfect for nutmeg replacement in a savory or sweet dish. Just use half as many cloves for nutmeg, and skip this substitute if the recipe already calls for clove. You definitely don't want to over-do cloves, as they're a lot to begin with.
Allspice
This spice tastes like a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, so it's a perfect substitution for nutmeg. Despite its name, allspice is actually made from dried allspice berries, and the flavor is ideal for a one-to-one replacement of nutmeg in any recipe.
Garam Masala
This spice blend is a staple in many Indian and Pakistani dishes. Different brands' blends can vary greatly, but often include mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, and sometimes peppercorns, bay leaves, and cumin. Because of this, stick to using garam masala as a nutmeg sub in your savory dishes only, with a one-to-one substitution.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
This blend typically mixes together nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon, so it's a great bottle to reach for when you're out of nutmeg. You can use it in sweet or savory dishes with a one-to-one replacement, and whatever you are cooking will be packed with flavor.
Ground Ginger
This stuff can be a little spicy (as in hot), but in a pinch it will work for replacing nutmeg. If you're creating a savory dish, try a one-to-one replacement. If you're making dessert, maybe try a different substitution, unless you're okay with a strong gingerbread-y flavor sans the molasses.
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