DESCRIPTION
Star anise has a liquorice flavour and is often used in savoury dishes. It comes in the form of a star shaped pod with 6-8 points. Each pod contains a seed. The pod is the dried fruit of the Illicium verum plant which is a shrub from Southwest China. You can buy Chinese star anise in either ground form or star anise pods. The pod is used whole in cooking.
FYI; Chinese star anise is different to Japanese star anise. Japanese star anise is not edible and actually poisonous if eaten. The two plants look super similar in appearance. Japanese star anise has a very muted scent whereas the Chinese star anise, which is the main focus of this post, has a strong scent.
Now. Back to cooking info on Chinese star anise!
COMPLIMENTARY FLAVOURS
The liquorice like flavour of Chinese star anise pairs well with many meats such as duck, pork, beef and chicken. It also goes well with cinnamon, ginger, citrus and nutmeg. It’s spicy, sweet taste enhances and brings another layer of flavour to your cooking.
WHAT CAN YOU USE INSTEAD OF STAR ANISE?
If you have a recipe that asks for star anise but you don’t have any, there are a couple of alternatives. Fennel seeds are my all time favourite substitute for star anise. Chinese five spice powder also works really well as it contains star anise as one of the five spices. Check out my Chinese 5 Spice recipe here.
TYPES OF FOOD IT’S USED IN
Star anise is often used in sauces and soups. When pods are used, I recommend they be removed before serving as they shouldn’t be eaten. It makes an easier meal experience for the diner. Both Indian and Chinese dishes often include star anise. You can also find it in some Vietnamese dishes too.
STORAGE
To get the most out of your star anise, store it in an air tight container. Keep in out of sunlight, out of the heat and away from moisture. Star anise pods will remain flavourful for one year and ground star anise with have the best flavour within 6 months.
Savy’s Kitchen 