Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese 5 spice made of? ›

What is five spice powder made of? Five spice is a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds. If you don't have Sichuan peppercorns to hand, you could substitute them for black peppercorns – the flavour will still be nice, although it won't have the same heat.

Whilst you're never going to get the classic flavour that Chinese 5 spice provides with a substitute, there are some seasonings that come pretty close. Star anise, allspice, garam masala, sichuan peppercorns and cinnamon sticks are all worthy replacements – but the real stuff is always best!

Try mixing the blend with salt and optional brown sugar to create a quick and delectable barbecue rub for smoked ribs or roasted pork loin. We love using Chinese five spice for braised pork belly. This sweet, sticky, and savory dish is an outstanding party appetizer.

Although it's not spicy-hot, it is rather intense. “Less is more” is a good rule of thumb to use when cooking with it. With that in mind, feel free to experiment. It's such an easy way to add complex flavor to a dish, it's almost like cheating!

In the culinary arts, five spice (also known as Chinese five spice) is a blend of ground spices used in Chinese and Vietnamese cooking.

Absolutely, you can use Allspice as a substitute for Chinese 5 Spice. While they aren't exactly the same, Allspice can still give your dish a delicious flavor profile that's somewhat similar to the 5 Spice blend.

A blend of anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and ginger, it is designed to impart a wide variety of tastes to fit many different types of prepared foods. A combination that produces citrus, licorice, earthy and sweet cinnamon notes.

Most versions of ground cinnamon you buy at the grocery store are made of ground cassia bark. This spice will add warmth and help enrich the overall flavor of the dish but it will not have an exact licorice flavor. Add a ½ teaspoon cassia bark powder or ground cinnamon in place of 1 teaspoon star anise.

Storage: McCormick Culinary® Chinese Five Spice has a shelf life of 1,080 days when tightly closed and stored in a cool, dry place to protect against flavor loss and moisture. Avoid exposure to heat, humidity, direct sunlight and fluorescent light to maintain flavor and color.

What is the flavor of Chinese 5 spice? ›

It's sweet but also earthy, spicy but also cooling, and strongly aromatic. The licorice flavor of the star anise comes out strong, supported by the fennel seed, which also has a warmth and sweetness to it. However, the cinnamon exhibits both traits more dominantly. It also has a peppery kick to it.

At first glance seven spice powder may sound like a variant on Chinese five spice powder, but they couldn't be more different. Or rather, they're exactly as different as their native cuisines. Five spice, fragrant with sweet and spicy anise flavors, is the perfect compliment to meaty Chinese braises and barbecues.

Allspice is considered safe in small amounts. While anecdotal evidence suggests potential side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and drug interactions, when it's consumed in large amounts, no scientific evidence supports these claims.

Sweet Defeats Heat

Adding something sweet to a too-spicy dish is another great way to reduce spiciness. A sprinkle of sugar or honey should do the trick. Or add a touch of sweet ketchup. If it's a tomato-based sauce, stir in a little more tomato sauce and maybe a touch of sugar.

Reduce blood pressure

The Chinese 5 spice ingredients are commonly excellent to regulate blood pressure level. Especially the fennel seed and cinnamon which is able to prevent blood clotting and improve blood circulation within the blood vessel. The proper circulation will keep the blood pressure in check.

Chinese Five Spice 五香粉 - the principal spice blend used in Chinese cooking - has a warm, sweet, and aromatic flavor. The blend generally consists of five spices - star anise, fennel, cinnamon (cassia), Sichuan pepper, and clove.

At first glance seven spice powder may sound like a variant on Chinese five spice powder, but they couldn't be more different. Or rather, they're exactly as different as their native cuisines.

A typical recipe for five-spice powder calls for Szechuan (Sichuan) peppercorns, ground cloves, fennel, cinnamon, and star anise. Five-spice powder can also include anise seeds, ginger root, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, amomum villosum pods (similar to cardamom), licorice, orange peel, or galangal.

To start with, Chinese five spice is Chinese in origin. Seven spice powder is Japanese, and also called shichimi togarashi. Unlike Five Spice, Seven spice's foundation is comprised of chilis, dried orange peel, sesame seed, dried ginger, and seaweed, as well as Sichuan peppercorns.