Italian Phrase
Condisci con sale e noce moscata.
Meaning
The sentence is a cooking instruction that tells the listener to season the dish with salt and nutmeg. It is a straightforward, imperative command commonly found in Italian recipes.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving or following a recipe, especially for sauces, soups, or baked goods where a pinch of salt and a hint of nutmeg enhance the flavor.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Condisciconsaleenocemoscata
Imperativo (tu)
‘Condisci’ is the second‑person singular imperative of ‘condire’, used to give a direct command.
Preposizione ‘con’
‘con’ introduces the ingredients that are added to the dish.
Articolo zero
In Italian, nouns after ‘con’ often appear without an article when they refer to ingredients in a recipe.
Coordinazione con ‘e’
‘e’ simply links two items in a list, here ‘sale’ and ‘noce moscata’.
Noce moscata
‘noce moscata’ is a compound noun meaning ‘nutmeg’; it stays singular even when referring to a small amount.
🗨In Conversation
Condisci con sale e noce moscata, poi mescola bene.
Season with salt and nutmeg, then stir well.
Va bene, aggiungo subito gli ingredienti.
Alright, I’ll add the ingredients right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Condisci con il sale e la noce moscata.
In recipes the article is omitted; saying ‘il sale’ or ‘la noce moscata’ sounds unnatural.
Condisci con sale e noce di moscata.
‘Noce di moscata’ is not idiomatic; the correct compound noun is ‘noce moscata’.
Condisci con sale e noce moscata troppo.
Nutmeg is strong; native speakers say ‘un pizzico di noce moscata’, not ‘troppo’.
↔Alternatives
Aggiungi sale e noce moscata.
Add salt and nutmeg.
Insaporisci con un pizzico di sale e un po' di noce moscata.
Flavor with a pinch of salt and a little nutmeg.
Condisci il piatto con sale e una spolverata di noce moscata.
Season the dish with salt and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
Cultural Tip
In Italian cooking, nutmeg is often used in small quantities to add warmth to savory dishes like ragù, béchamel sauce, or even certain vegetable soups. Because the flavor is strong, native speakers usually say ‘un pizzico di noce moscata’ (a pinch of nutmeg) rather than a large amount. Also, remember that in many regions (e.g., Tuscany) the word ‘sale’ can be preceded by the article ‘il’ when speaking generally, but in recipes the article is dropped for brevity.