Substitute for Mace

Asked by home. Answered on 17th June 2015

Full question

A Nigella recipe for Oxtail calls for mace. What substitute could I use instead?

Our answer

Nigella's Oxtail Stew with Mackeson stout (from How to Eat) uses ground mace. Mace is a spice that is part of the nutmeg fruit - mace is the lacy coating that is found on a nutmeg seed. It tends to be red when raw and is usually dried before use, turning a dark reddish-orange. It is most commonly sold ground, though you may find whole pieces called blades.

Mace is usually considered to have a slightly more pungent flavour than nutmeg but grated nutmeg would be the closest substitute. Otherwise ground allspice would be a slightly stronger alternative.