The History of the Use of Star Anise in Cooking
The use of star anise in cooking has been known since the founding of one of the most ancient cuisines - Chinese. Over time, this spice - star anise - has not lost its relevance in Chinese cuisine. Today star anise in China is used in recipes for poultry, pork, lamb and other products. Over time, star anise as a spice penetrated into various cuisines of the countries of the world. In the process of developing various culinary trends, star anise acted as an ingredient in various seasonings, a natural flavoring of alcoholic beverages, pastries and, of course, was able to improve the taste of various dishes as an independent spice.
The Use of Star Anise in Recipes of Cuisines of the World
The use of star anise in cooking today is very wide. In the East, star anise is used as a spice for meat dishes. Star anise is especially widely used in recipes for fried lamb or pork dishes, but star anise is not used in beef dishes in oriental cooking. Star anise fills meat dishes with extraordinary, unexpected taste qualities. In European cooking, star anise has found its niche due to its extensive use in the confectionery industry. Star anise has been a flavoring agent for a long time in the cooking of various confectionery products. In cooking, recipes for jam, tea and alcoholic tinctures with star anise in different versions are common.
Star Anise Jam
The recipe for cherry jam with star anise is widespread. The recipe for this jam includes several stages and involves the use of pitted cherry berries. Star anise, ground into powder, is added just before the final stage of cooking. In addition to taste and aroma, star anise acts as a preservative - such jam is stored longer and is not candied.
Star Anise Tea
As for tea, star anise has the ability to significantly change the taste characteristics of tea. The most common star anise tea acquires a very unusual taste, and most importantly, a lot of useful properties. Star anise harmonizes well with ginger, which can also be added to tea. Like anise, star anise added to tea has an anti-inflammatory effect and is useful for colds, star anise improves stomach function. However, care must be taken with this spice, as it can cause side effects, such as allergic reactions.
Star Anise and Spirits
In the production of alcohol tinctures, star anise performs a number of functions - color saturation, giving a specific taste and unusual color. In industry, a little essential anise is used to flavor alcoholic beverages, and at home, you can make an alcoholic tincture of star anise using whole stars. When making star anise-based tinctures, it should be borne in mind that no more than a few grams per liter of tincture should be added, otherwise it can be harmful to health.