Your favourite recipes using star anise

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I bought star anise for a plum sauce to go with duck - gorgeous! Now have a lot of star anise to use up.

What are your favourite recipes for star anise? DH doesn't like an overly strong aniseed flavour so recipes which are enhanced by it rather than 'in your face'.

Yes, I know I could Google but prefer tried and tested if possible.

Duck recipe mentioned above in return!
Thanks

I do a rice side dish with pistachios and star anise - a bit like this one.
www.cookstr.com/Side-Dishes/Herby-Rice-Pilaf-with-Pistachios-and-Almonds/amp

Slow cooked Chinese ribs!

Ah yes why didn't I think of ribs? And pulled pork maybe.

Rice side dish a lovely way for spicing up a staple!

Thanks both

Poached pears

Green thai curry.

And delicious in a gin and tonic instead of lemon, using Opihr gin!

@JamieFrasersBigSwingingKilt

Poached pears

Can imagine that working well. What poaching liquid do you use with the star anise - wine or just a syrup?

@Roussette

Green thai curry.

And delicious in a gin and tonic instead of lemon, using Opihr gin!

Great idea re the gin!

Thai curry something else I hadn't thought of! Thanks

Baked plums in orange juice with star anise.

Halve and stone the plums.
Put a couple of tablespoons of orange juice in baking dish with one teaspoon of vanilla extract, add 3 star anise.
Lay plums on top, bake for about 25-30 mins.

I use it in a winter fruit salad to flavour the syrup.
I also use it to flavour the stock for any beef/ noodle 'bowl' meal

Star anise goes well with beef as well as pork. I make a version of this
www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/chinese-red-cooked-beef-recipe
You can serve it with rice instead of noodles if you like.

Mulled wine.
Spiced/braised red cabbage.
Flavour a red wine sauce/jus for venison
Boeuf bourguignon

This one, making the paste is a bit of a faff but it’s worth it www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chinese-braised-beef-ginger

So many lovely ideas, thank you all

Slow cooker pork steaks.

Put them in the slow cooker, add two star anise, onion, carrots a can of Coke and some hoi sin sauce if you fancy it.

Throw in frozen peas an hour before it’s done.

Right at the end at gravy granules to thicken. Serve with mash and veg.

As a couple of pp have said, use it in poaching syrup for fruit. My favourite is rhubarb.

I use it for a quick carrot pickle to go with duck pancakes or a banh mi sandwich. 1 cup water, 1/2 cup rice vinegar or white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 star anise. Bring it all to a boil for a couple of minutes then pour over grated carrot. DH likes star anise in small doses so I usually remove it after an hour and the flavour is strong enough.

[quote FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack]This one, making the paste is a bit of a faff but it’s worth it www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chinese-braised-beef-ginger[/quote]
I love this one.
I'm not a fan of a strong anisey taste and this is perfect. Mildly faffy and doesn't look amazing but is one of my favourites, served with rice
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/asian-aubergine-pork-hotpot

Stick one in with a couple of cardamon seeds and a stick of cinnamon when you make spiced basmati rice dishes. Very fragrant.

And since it's almost halloween - they go really well in mulled wine with cloves and cinnamon. I think star anise is the magical spice that makes mulled wine taste good (but not aniseedy)

Also lovely with poached pears, again with cinnamon and vanilla.

More great ideas, thank you, I'll have no problem using them up!

Either red wine or syrup for the poached pears.

seonkyounglongest.com/chicken-pho-pho-ga/

Tastes so good

FIL does carrots in butter and star anise at Christmas. It is absolutely amazing. I don’t have the recipe but I’m sure Google would help out if it’s up your street.

Jamie Oliver’s get-ahead gravy. Make it now and freeze it ready for Christmas. It’s unbelievably tasty 😋

Heston Blumenthal adds a small amount to his "ultimate spaghetti bolognese". It's not to everyone's taste but I find a small piece (about 1/4) adds depth.