The Chinese all Spice Powder and the Five Elements hypothesis

Even nevertheless the precise origins of five-spice powder are mislaid to the past, there is a few reflection that the Chinese were putting efforts to make a "wonder powder" encompassing all of the five essentials. All of the five flavors - sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, and salty - are found in five-spice powder. Then again, it's possible that a cook accidentally stumbled upon this particular combination of spices, and realized its power to enliven the blandest dish. Whatever the case, there is no doubt that five-spice powder is unique.

Of course, these days the definite amalgamation of spices used to make up five-spice powder varies. In fact, a few brands could more correctly be labeled "seven-spice powder," since they contain seven ingredients. A average recipe calls for fennel, cloves, and cinnamon, along with star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. Nevertheless, you'll also locate five-spice powder made with cassia (a member of the same family as cinnamon), ginger, nutmeg, and even licorice (star anise has a wonderful licorice flavor). Sense free to experiment with different varieties until you find the one you like best.

Bottled five-spice powder can often be found at local supermarkets. Though, if at all possible, I would suggest acquire it from an Asian market. You'll pay a lesser amount and the spice combination will be more bona fide. An supplementary benefit is that it is normally packaged in plastic bags, agree to the aroma to come through and giving you a chance to compare brands before buying. At home, remove from the bag and store in a dry place in a sealed jar.

Below, a information related to is provided a basic recipe for five-spice powder, along with several dishes that make use of its powerful flavor. But don't limit your use of five-spice powder to specific recipes - add it whenever you want to lend flavor to stir-fries, soups and red-cooked dishes. It works well with meats, and makes an excellent marinade. (You'll sometimes find packages of five-spice marinade designed specifically for chicken in Asian markets). Just remember to use sparingly - a little goes a long way.