If you are ready to try your hand at cooking some delicious Asian dishes, you will want to have some Chinese five spice on hand in your kitchen. Although recipes for the spice blend vary, it can be made from a combination of cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, fennel seed and star anise. Sometimes ginger is used, or cassia buds.
Chinese five spice blend is used to season a plethora of foods. One of the most popular ways to use the spice is to add flavor to various meats. Sirloin steak, chicken, game birds, duck, pork spareribs, beef short ribs, even burgers can be enhanced with the wonderful flavors in this spicy blend. Tofu used in stir-fry dishes make a great base to use with Chinese five spice, as do nuts, which can be prepared in a spicy nut mix. Desserts also sometimes use Chinese five spice powder, especially those that use chocolate, as a counter punch to the rich sweetness.