Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · · 4 Comments · Jump to Recipe

This Chinese five spice recipe is pungent and vibrant, essential for many classic Chinese dishes and perfect for spicy food lovers seeking bold flavors. Learn how to make it and how to use it.

Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (1)

Chinese Five Spice Recipe

Today we are making homemade Chinese Five Spice powder in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen. If you have not used Chinese five spice, this is a seasoning I highly recommend.

What is Chinese Five Spice?

Chinese five spice is a traditional Chinese spice blend used in many Chinese and Sichuan dishes. It is a bold and flavorful mixture that spicy food lovers are sure to love.

You can buy good a good quality spice mix from the grocery store or online, but when you make it at home, you'll get the fullest, most pungent flavor, and you can adjust the ratios to make it your own.

Let's talk about how to make Chinese 5 spice powder, shall we?

Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (2)

What is in Chinese Five Spice? The Ingredients

Chinese five spice is made primarily from the following 5 ingredients: fennel, star anise, Chinese cinnamon, clove and Sichuan peppercorns. However, there are other possible combinations and substitutions for the Sichuan peppercorns.

I use the following ingredients:

  • Star Anise seeds
  • Fennel Seeds
  • Szechuan Peppercorns. Aka Sichuan Peppercorns. You can use white peppercorns or a milder flavor.
  • Chinese Cinnamon.
  • Clove.

How to Make Chinese Five Spice - the Recipe Method

FOR WHOLE SPICES

Toast the Spices. Heat a small skillet to medium-high heat. Add the whole seasonings - cinnamon, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds - and lightly toast them in the dry skillet, 1-2 minutes.

Stir part way through. Be sure to not let the spices burn. This lets the flavors of the spices bloom.

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Grind the Spices. Remove from heat and transfer toasted spices to a spice grinder. Grind until well blended. You can also use a mortar and pestle to pulverize the ingredients by hand.

A coffee grinder works well for this.

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Store the Chinese 5 Spice Powder. Use as desired. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark place.

FOR GROUND SPICES

Mix and Use. Mix the ingredients together until well combined. Use as desired. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark place.

Boom! Done! Your fresh Chinese five spice powder is ready to use. Smells wonderful, doesn't it? Pungent! Unlike any other seasoning you'll encounter.

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Using Chinese Five Spice

Chinese 5 spice is used to season many different Chinese and Szechuan dishes, including classic stir fries, rice and noodle dishes. It can be used to season meats for grilling or sautéing, or vegetables to give them a little zing.

Try some of these Chinese recipes that use Chinese 5 spice:

  • Szechuan Beef
  • Szechuan Chicken
  • Szechuan Shrimp
  • Szechuan Sauce
  • Dan Dan Noodles
  • General Tso's Chicken
  • Mapo Tofu
  • Chicken Fried Rice
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
  • Bo Kho Recipe (Spicy Vietnamese Beef Stew)
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Recipe Tips & Notes

  • Other Possible Ingredients. In reviewing other Chinese five spice recipes and products that I have purchased, I've seen other ingredients used to make the blend. Some use licorice root, ginger, orange peel, or white peppercorns in lieu of the szechuan peppercorns, which have a slight numbing effect on the lips and tongue. It is a very unique flavor.
  • Taste and Adjust. When making any seasoning blend, it is best to give it a taste and adjust the ratios to your own preference. I like extra szechuan peppercorns in mine, for instance, and a bit less cinnamon. Adjust to your own palate.

Storage

Chinese 5 spice should be stored in an airtight container and kept in a cool, dark place. Use within 6 months, as the spice can lose potency.

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That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this Chinese 5 spice recipe. Let me know if you make it and how you use it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you. Keep it spicy!

Cookbook Recommendation

If you love spicy and bold Chinese cuisine, I highly recommend this cookbook, which highlights Chinese food from the Sichuan province. I'm learning very much from this book.

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Try Some of These Other Popular Spice Blends

  • Chaat Masala
  • Sazon Seasoning
  • Adobo Seasoning
  • Fajita Seasoning
  • Cajun Seasoning
  • Togarashi
  • See all of my spice blend recipes
Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (9)

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (10)

Print

Chinese Five Spice Recipe

This Chinese five spice recipe is pungent and vibrant, essential for many classic Chinese dishes and perfect for spicy food lovers seeking bold flavors. Learn how to make it and how to use it.

Save Recipe

Course: Main Course, Seasonings

Cuisine: Chinese

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Calories: 1kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 64 teaspoons

Tap or hover to scale

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Ingredients

  • 6-10 star anise or use 2 tablespoons star anise powder
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds or use 1 teaspoon ground fennel
  • 1-2 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorns or use 1 teaspoon ground Szechuan pepper - use white peppercorns for milder flavor
  • 1 6- inch stick Chinese cinnamon you can sub for other cinnamon - or use 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 10 whole cloves or use 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

FOR WHOLE SPICES

  • Heat a large pan to medium-high heat. Add the whole seasonings and lightly toast them over dry heat, 1-2 minutes. Stir part way through. Be sure to not let the spices burn.

  • Remove from heat and transfer toasted spices to a spice grinder. Grind until well blended. You can also use a mortar and pestle to pulverize the ingredients by hand.

  • Use as desired. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark place.

FOR GROUND SPICES

  • Mix the ingredients together until well combined. Use as desired. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark place.

Video

Nutrition Information

Calories: 1kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 5mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg

Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (11)

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This post was updated on 10/28/22 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 7/26/21.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Beth W Thomerson says

    Just wanted to share my tip...five spice is magical on duck and really transforms apple crisp. Will try your recipe when I've run out of my current stash. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Nice! Thanks for the tips, Beth! Perfect!

      Reply

  2. Jeffrey Sherrard says

    I had purchased some 5 star a few weeks ago and kind of forgot to look for recipes for it. The store I go to does not have Szechuan peppercorns , but now you have me going to find them elsewhere after the words "numbing effect on the lips and tongue". I have to try some new tastes. Thanks for the recipes.
    Jeff

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Sure thing, Jeff. Szechuan peppercorns are truly unique, definitely something I love having in my pantry for so many recipes. Best of luck.

      Reply

Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients of Chinese 5 spice powder? ›

What is Chinese 5 spice made up of? Chinese 5 spice is an ingredient seen often in Chinese recipes. But what exactly IS Chinese 5 spice? 5 spice is a combination of cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds and cloves – the 5th ingredient can vary across recipes, we use sichuan peppercorns.

What can I use if I don't have Chinese 5 Spice? ›

You can swap Chinese five spice with a mix of ground cinnamon and ground star anise. This will give you the spiciness and warmth of cinnamon and the licorice taste of star anise.

What are the elements of the five spice? ›

It's traditionally made of fennel seed, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and Sichuan peppercorns, but other spices can be added, too, including ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, galangal, mandarin orange zest and anise.

Is there a difference between 5 Spice and Chinese 5 Spice? ›

In the culinary arts, five spice (also known as Chinese five spice) is a blend of ground spices used in Chinese and Vietnamese cooking.

Is Chinese 5 Spice same as 7 spice? ›

At first glance seven spice powder may sound like a variant on Chinese five spice powder, but they couldn't be more different. Or rather, they're exactly as different as their native cuisines. Five spice, fragrant with sweet and spicy anise flavors, is the perfect compliment to meaty Chinese braises and barbecues.

What's a replacement for allspice? ›

The brand also recommends using a trio of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to make a substitute but prefers these ratios: ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves. Use as a 1:1 substitute in a recipe that calls for one teaspoon of allspice.

Why is Chinese 5 spice so good? ›

The spices included in the mix are rich in antioxidants, and contain minerals such as copper, iron, and manganese. As the name suggests, Chinese 5 Spice is often used in Chinese cooking and other Asian cuisines. It makes an excellent dry rub or marinade for meat or tofu.

Is Chinese 5 spice the same as salt and pepper? ›

Unlike the name suggests, the salt and pepper spice mix usually consists of far more than just salt and pepper. It's often a mix of salt, white pepper/Sichuan pepper, Chinese 5 spice, MSG, and sugar.

Can I use mixed spice instead of Chinese 5 spice? ›

No, you can't. They have dissimilar and incompatible flavor profiles. Chinese five spice is made with cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorns. Of these, only cinnamon and cloves are common with Garam Masala.

Why is it called Chinese 5 spice? ›

The History of Five-Spice:

Originated in Southern China, Chinese five-spice contains star anise, fennel seeds, szechuan peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon. It is believed that the Chinese were attempting to produce a “wonder powder” encompassing all of the five elements-- wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.

What are the 4 C's of spices? ›

The list never ends, hence just a few to start with. In continuation to this let's quickly learn the art of Spicing the baby food with the Magic of the other 4 C's spices that are, Cinnamon, Cardamom Cumin, and Clove.

Can I use Chinese 5 spice instead of star anise? ›

Chinese five spice can replace ground star anise in a recipe. The blend is more intense than star anise on its own, so work with a ratio of 1/2 of the amount of what the recipe calls for.

Does Chinese 5 spice taste like licorice? ›

The blend generally consists of five spices - star anise, fennel, cinnamon (cassia), Sichuan pepper, and clove. The blend should be balanced, but many versions are dominated by the flavor of licorice because of the heavy handed use of star anise and fennel.

What does Chinese five spice smell like? ›

Having a brown or amber colour, it has a strong aroma with star anise offering the most noticeable smell. Since it doesn't contain any spicy ingredients, it doesn't create heat on the palate. You can find it in many classic savoury dishes, mostly meat-based (such as beef, pork), but also some vegetarian food.

Does Chinese five spice contain MSG? ›

McCormick Culinary Chinese Five Spice is kosher and made with no added MSG. There are 6/16 oz. containers per case.

Does 5 spice powder have MSG? ›

Authentic Chinese Five Spice Blend 1.05 oz, Gluten Free, All Natural Ground Chinese 5 Spice Powder, No Preservatives No MSG, Mixed Spice Seasoning for Asian Cuisine & Stir Fry.

Is Chinese five spice good for you? ›

Reduce blood pressure

The Chinese 5 spice ingredients are commonly excellent to regulate blood pressure level. Especially the fennel seed and cinnamon which is able to prevent blood clotting and improve blood circulation within the blood vessel. The proper circulation will keep the blood pressure in check.

References

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