Chinese five spice powder is an aromatic blend of spices that adds complex flavour to dishes. With origins in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, this versatile seasoning can enhance the taste of everything from meat to desserts.
If you have a jar of five spice powder in your pantry, you may be wondering how to cook with it. From savoury mains to sweet treats, there are endless ways to use Chinese five spice to create mouthwatering meals and snacks.
What is Chinese Five Spice Powder?
Chinese five spice powder, also known as five spice seasoning, is a blend of warm, sweet, and savoury spices.
It typically contains:
- Star anise - Provides a subtle licorice flavour
- Fennel seeds - Lend a sweet, faintly anise-like flavour
- Cinnamon - Imparts a warm, aromatic flavour
- Cloves - Contribute a strong, sweet, and slightly bitter taste
- Szechuan peppercorns - Offer a unique lemony, almost floral, flavour
However, some five spice blends also include ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, tangerine peel, and more. The exact combination of spices can vary, but the complex medley of flavours is the hallmark of this versatile blend.
While its name comes from the five fundamental flavours in Chinese cooking, the number of spices isn’t necessarily limited to five. Nonetheless, these select spices create a well-balanced mixture with something to love for all palates.
Key Takeaway: Chinese five spice powder typically contains star anise, fennel, cinnamon, cloves, and Szechuan peppercorns, but the ingredients may vary. This blend unites sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savoury flavours.
Taste and Aroma
With its diversity of spices, Chinese five spice powder offers an intense depth of flavour that’s impossible to pin down. It manages to be sweet yet spicy, citrusy yet warm, floral yet earthy all at once.
You’ll notice distinct notes from the individual components. The star anise and Szechuan peppercorns lend a bright, aromatic quality, while the fennel seeds and cinnamon offer a sweet backdrop. Finally, the cloves add a rich spice.
Beyond the mélange of identifiable flavours, the overall effect is complex, exotic, and almost mysterious. Some describe it as faintly resembling licorice with an extra savoury twist.
When cooking with this blend, a little goes a long way. Used judiciously, it can greatly enhance other ingredients without overpowering them. You’ll be amazed how a sprinkling of this spice mix can utterly transform a dish.
Popular Uses in Asian Cooking
In Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Asian cuisines, cooks regularly use five spice powder to impart flavour and fragrance. Here are some traditional and modern ways to cook with this versatile seasoning:
Meat Dishes
Five spice powder beautifully complements rich, fatty meats like pork, duck, chicken, and ribs. For example, it’s used to flavour roast duck, Char Siu barbecued pork, or bakkwa pork jerky.
Often, cooks simply mix five spice powder with salt and use it to season meat before roasting or grilling. When tossed with cubed pork or chicken, it quickly infuses a sweet aroma.
It also makes an easy dry rub for ribs when blended with salt, garlic, and brown sugar. Massage the mixture into meat before smoking or baking for finger-licking results.
Braises and Stews
The warm sweetness of five spice seasoning perfectly balances the savoury taste of favourite Chinese braised dishes. It’s ideal in lu rou or braised pork belly, charsiu chicken, or red-cooked dishes like hong shao pork.
When making braises or stews, add a pinch while sautéing aromatics like ginger and garlic. As it gently cooks, the spices will perfume the whole dish.
Stir Fries
Contrary to its name, stir-frying is actually a quick cooking method. So five spice powder makes an ideal last-minute flavour booster.
Towards the end of stir-frying, sprinkle some over meat or veggies. Let it heat through for an instant aromatic lift. It’s especially nice with beef, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bok choy, and bean sprouts.
Rice or Noodles
Tossing cooked grains or noodles with a touch of oil and five spice powder is an easy way to spice up a side dish. It adds warmth and dimension to everyday staples.
For example, drizzle some oil over cooked rice and sprinkle on a bit of the blend – the spices infuse beautifully. Toss crispy noodles from a packet with oil and five spice seasoning for a quick snack.
Sauces and Dips
Blend five spice powder into sauces and dips to lend instant character. For example, whisk some into soy sauce and use it to glaze meat or drizzle over rice.
When making a dipping sauce, include a pinch along with soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. It'll make veggies, dumplings, or spring rolls even more crave-worthy.
Cooking with Five Spice Beyond Asian Cuisine
While Chinese five spice powder hails from Asia, its complex medley of sweet and savoury flavors lends itself to all types of cooking. From chicken to chocolate, it can spruce up just about anything.
Roast Chicken and Turkey
Boring roast chicken is an ideal canvas for five spice powder’s exotic bouquet. Blend it with brown sugar and salt to rub underneath the skin and over the meat.
As the bird roasts, the spice mix permeates the flesh with warm aromas of cinnamon and bright citrus flavours from the Szechuan peppercorns. It’s a simple way to bring exciting new dimensions to an everyday dinner.
Grilled Veggies
Fire up the grill and give vegetables extra panache by tossing them with a quick five spice seasoning blend.
Mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and peppers all shine when grilled – a sprinkling of five spice powder accentuates their natural sweetness. Add some salt, lemon juice, and oil for a fast marinade that packs a flavor punch.
Pork Tenderloin
Lean pork tenderloin has a mild flavor that benefits from assertive seasoning. Give it a mouthwatering crust by coating it with a rub made of five spice powder, brown sugar, salt, garlic, and onion powder before roasting.
As the sugars caramelize, they’ll form a delicious sweet and savory outer layer that plays perfectly against the spice blend. Pork turns succulent and moreish when kissed with these complex flavors.
Chocolate Desserts
Intriguingly, a hint of five spice powder can make chocolate desserts even more crave-worthy. Its warmth and gentle bite offer pleasant contrast to chocolate’s smooth, creamy indulgence.
Stir a pinch into brownie batter, molten chocolate cakes, or chocolate sauce for a twist. Or roll chocolate truffles in five spice blend instead of cocoa powder for a sophisticated flavor and floral aroma.
Banana Bread
Banana bread is delicious, but everyone makes it – so why not try something different? Add a teaspoon of Chinese five spice powder to your favourite recipe for an intriguing flavor twist.
As the bread bakes, the blend’s cinnamon and cloves mirror classic warming spice flavors while the peppercorns and star anise provide intrigue. It’s an easy way to reinvent a classic.
Spiced Nuts or Popcorn
For an addictive snack, toss pecans or walnuts with some melted butter, brown sugar, salt and five spice powder. Spread them on a baking sheet and toast until caramelized and fragrant.
You can also sprinkle a bit of the blend over hot popcorn with some oil or melted butter. The sweet warmth plays beautifully against the popcorn’s salty crunch.
Storing Five Spice Powder
Like most spices, five spice powder stays fresh longest when stored properly in an airtight container away from heat, moisture and light. Kept dry in a cool, dark place, it will retain its aroma and flavor for up to a year.
Over time, pre-ground powder will lose pungency faster than whole spices. For maximum vibrancy, toast whole star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, fennel, cinnamon sticks and cloves until fragrant before grinding them fresh.
Prepared five spice powder can be found in the spice aisle at well-stocked supermarkets and Asian specialty stores. When buying, give it a sniff – you want something extremely fragrant, not dull.
As a blend of several spices, five spice powder benefits from more frequent replacement compared to single-ingredient spices. For best flavor, use your supply within 6 months to a year.
Key Takeaway: Store five spice powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. For optimal aroma and taste, replace pre-ground powder after 6-12 months. Grinding whole spices fresh imparts more vibrancy.
FAQs
How much five spice powder should I use?
Used judiciously in savoury cooking, just 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon of five spice powder is often enough for four to six servings. Start with less, taste, and add more if needed. In baking, use 1⁄2 to 1 teaspoon per recipe. Too much overpowers other flavors.
What are good five spice powder substitutes?
For each 1 teaspoon five spice powder, substitute:
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1⁄4 teaspoon each ground cloves and allspice + pinch dried orange peel
- 1⁄2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice + 1⁄4 teaspoon ground fennel seed + pinch dried orange peel
Can I use five spice powder in marinades and rubs?
Yes! Blend five spice powder with olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and/or ginger to make a flavorful marinade or dry spice rub. Massage into chicken, beef, pork, salmon, or tuna before cooking.
What foods pair well with five spice powder?
Red meats like beef and pork taste delicious seasoned with this blend, as do chicken, duck, fish, shrimp, tofu, tempeh, mushrooms, onions, carrots, cabbage, daikon radish, and sweet potatoes.
Can I make my own five spice powder?
Absolutely! Toast whole star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves until fragrant then cool. Grind into a powder and store in an airtight container for up to a year. Customize proportions to taste.
Conclusion
With its mingling of enticing sweet and savory flavors, Chinese five spice powder deserves a permanent spot in every cook’s pantry.
A little bit quickly enhances everything from weekday chicken to special occasion roasts.
It also magically transforms ordinary snacks and desserts with its aromatic warmth and subtle bite.