Chinese•budget
Homemade Five Spice Powder (五香粉)
A versatile spice mix unique to Chinese cuisine, five spice powder adds great flavour to many classic dishes. It’s very easy to make at home.
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 5 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
5
- 10 g star anise
- 10 g fennel seeds
- 5 g cassia cinnamon/Chinese cinnamon
- 5 g Sichuan pepper
- 2 g cloves
- 2 g white pepper (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Separate the pods of star anise. Remove any black seeds and stems from the Sichuan pepper.
- 2
Put all the spices into a cool pan, toast over medium-low heat until fragrant (The colour of the fennel seeds darkens a little and you’d hear some popping sound). Remove from the pan and leave to cool completely.
- 3
Add toasted spices to a spice grinder (or a mini blender). Mill until fine powder appears.
- 4
Pass through a fine sieve to remove any remaining bits.
- 5
Store the powder in an airtight jar away from direct sunlight. It can be used for up to a year (or longer if its aroma stays strong).