Sunday, July 24, 2011

Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Five Spice Powder

Chinese Food: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week
Five Spice Powder
Jul 24th 2011, 10:03

Answer: The origins of five-spice powder are lost to history. It's thought that ancient Chinese were attempting to produce a "wonder powder" that encompasses all five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and a fifth taste that is alternately known as hot, pungent or spicy. But which of the spices that make up five-spice powder matches which taste?

A typical recipe for five-spice powder calls for szechuan peppercorns, ground cloves, fennel, cinnamon, star anise and cinnamon. Let's see what taste (or tastes) each of the spices contributes:

Cinnamon:
Cinnamon is sweet, but unlike sugar it has a spicy undertone. Some five-spice recipes call for Chinese cinnamon or cassia, a close cousin of true cinnamon, but with a more pungent flavor.

Szechuan peppercorns:
Not a pepper at all, but a reddish brown berry that comes from the prickly ash bush, Szechuan peppercorn has a truly unique taste. The first sensation from this aromatic spice is a peppery (spicy) taste that quickly numbs the tongue. Soon, you'll pick up hints of anise and ginger, gradually becoming lemony (sour), salty and hot.

Ground Cloves:
Ground cloves have a pungent, sweet flavor.

Star Anise:
Star anise has a taste similar to licorice, with a more bitter undertone.

Fennel:
Fennel is similar to anise but sweeter and less pungent, without so much of a licorice taste.

When to Use Five-Spice Powder?

Five-spice powder adds a spicy kick to dry rubs or marinades for meat, fish or poultry. It goes particularly well with pork - a traditional dish called "Five Flower Pork" consists of pork belly that is marinated in five-spice powder and other seasonings and steamed. Western versions of the dish substitute pork tenderloin or pork chops and call for stir-frying instead of steaming. Occasionally you will also see five-spice powder added to a sauce. And five-spice powder goes very nicely with tofu - it's one of the secret ingredients in pressed seasoned bean curd.

Five-Spice Powder Recipes

How to Make Five-Spice Powder
Spicy Spareribs
Chinese-style Roast Turkey
Easy Braised Spareribs
Five-Spice Peanuts
Glazed Carrots
Hawaiian Luau Barbecued Beef Ribs
Honey Chicken in the Microwave
Honey Chicken â€" Oven Roasted
Oriental Rotisserie-Style Turkey Breast
Paper-wrapped Chicken Appetizer
Spiced Beef Recipe â€" (uses three of the ingredients in five-spice powder)
Szechuan Guacamole
Chocolate Fusion Fondue
Chinese Fruit Salad
Vietnamese Five-Spice Cornish Game Hens - From the About Guide to Barbecues and Grilling

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