For a deliciously braised meat, the secret family marinade recipe always includes star anise. The pointed shape of star anise adds a wonderful aroma and flavor to the sauce. Do you know how to use star anise?

What gives star anise its unique flavor?

Chinese Ingredients

Star anise, as its name suggests, has eight pointed corners. The brownish-red fruit of a tree, harvested and dried, is used for later use. Star anise is a common Chinese spice, primarily grown in China, and is considered an ingredient unique to Chinese cuisine, particularly in Asia.

Star anise comes in many varieties, such as winter fruit star anise and spring flower star anise, each with slight variations in aroma, volatile compounds, and their content.

Spicy Flavor

Star anise is typically used in marinades and stews. Its strong flavor stems from the presence of volatile oils such as anisaldehyde and anisol. It’s best to stew it to release its aroma; it’s not suitable to eat it on its own.

If you’ve ever accidentally tasted or inhaled star anise, you’ll find its strong, pungent flavor overwhelming, like a mysterious ingredient you can only admire from afar.

Star anise is a spicy seasoning with a warming effect in dietary therapy. It can moderately regulate qi and dispel coldness in cooking. Generally, only a few pieces are needed. Excessive use will not only overpower the flavor but also be unpalatable.

Is star anise also included in the five-spice powder commonly used in meat marinades?

Most people only know that star anise is good for whole use, but they forget that the “five-spice powder” used in meat marinades actually contains star anise!

Grind the star anise into a powder and mix it with cinnamon, cloves, and cumin. This blend of flavors is so fragrant that it can remove fishy odors from dishes and enhance their flavor!

Understanding star anise’s uses reveals two main uses:

Removing fishy odors:

Braised dishes

It’s commonly used in meat dishes like chicken, pork, and beef, and can be used in two ways. When making braised dishes like braised pork and braised beef, add a few star anise along with the sauce, water, and spices like scallions during the braising process.

As the sauce cooks, the slightly licorice-like aroma is released, helping to remove the fishy smell and enriching the sauce.

Representative dishes include braised pork and stewed beef.

Blanching and cold dishes

Another option is to use star anise when blanching chicken breast or pork. Add common deodorizing spices like ginger, scallions, and peppercorns to the water, and then add the star anise.

Braising the meat until it’s cooked through removes the fishy odor. For cold dishes, crushed star anise can be added to the sauce and mixed together to mask the flavor of vegetables and meat. Representative dishes include salted chicken.

Adding Fragrance:

Spiced Beverages

Besides removing fishy smells, it can also be sprinkled on dishes to add fragrance. Star anise powder or five-spice powder is used in marinades. Spiced milk teas from India and other Middle Eastern regions are richly fragrant. In addition to ginger and cinnamon, star anise powder is also present.

To make spiced milk tea, first combine the spices and star anise in a pot, then add black tea leaves and simmer. Finally, season and add fresh milk. The distinctive aroma of star anise adds a touch of flavor to the milk tea.

Flavorful Desserts

Star anise can also be used in desserts, extending its harmonious harmony with spices like cinnamon and cardamom. It’s effective for removing fishy smells from eggs and creating a fragrant aroma. Use star anise powder to enhance the aroma of cinnamon buns, cinnamon apple cake, spiced chiffon, and cinnamon pudding bread!

Although star anise, a supporting ingredient in cooking, contains minerals like potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, its volatile oil content is still the key to its flavor. For added peace of mind during cooking, store star anise securely sealed and in a cool, dry place. This will prevent moisture from entering the product, ensuring its long-lasting use.