Herbs are essential in Chinese cuisines. Not only do herbs provide delicious taste sensations, they are also super healthy! Are you already familiar with the Chinese five spice powder? An absolute must to give your meal a delicious and healthy Asian twist. Read all about it in this article!
What exactly is this Chinese miracle powder?
The composition of the Chinese five spice powder can vary, but usually consists of a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel seed. This delicious spice mixture gives dishes a special type of warmth. The combination of herbs contains all five basic flavors; sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami. Can you already imagine the taste explosion?
Several stories are known about the history of this herbal mixture. The most plausible is that a Chinese chef wanted to create a mixture inspired by the vision of Chinese Medicine. In short, this means that one herbal mixture contains all five basic elements; wood, metal, fire, earth and water. Read more about Traditional Chinese Medicine in another blog.
Ways to use the Chinese 5 spice:
Chinese 5 spice can be used in many different ways. You can use it for desserts as well as for fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. Did you know that the Chinese five spice powder is even used for incredible cocktails?
A delicious dish in which these herbs are used is the five spice chicken wings. Tasty, juicy and crunchy chicken wings with an Asian touch! Of course we have a recipe for you on our Hanting Journal.
Do it yourself?
Although a ready-made variant is available in many stores, you can make your own Chinese 5 Spice in no time with a few simple steps. Here are the steps:
Step 1: the spices
Collect and prepare the spices: Sichuan pepper, fennel seed, cinnamon, cloves and star anise.
Step 2: heat it up
To release all of the flavors, you first have to roast the Sichuan peppers! Heat a pan, use two teaspoons of Sichuan peppers and roast it for about 3 minutes.
Step 3: blend it
Then put the peppers in a blender. Add 8 pieces of star anise and blend it! Then sieve the blended star anise and Sichuan peppers, so that you are left with a refined powder.
Step 4: don’t forget the other herbs
Add half a teaspoon of ground cloves, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of ground fennel seeds to the sifted Sichuan pepper and star anise.
Step 5: blend it one more time
Blend your mixture one more time, and there you go: your homemade Chinese 5 Spice is ready!
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