Made a surprisingly delicious chicken casserole - did you know Star Anise worked well?

[BlingLovin]

I clearly didn't. But was trying to beef up what I thought would be quite bland.
Basically, chicken casserole cooked in wine and stock with onions, butternut and chickpeas and flavoured with a bit of thyme, some fennel, one star anise(which made all the difference) and a bay leaf.

Really pleased with it.

Nice.

Sounds a bit like five spice chicken. I know star anise is one of the ingredients in chinese 5 spice powder.

Another good thing to do with star anise add it to baked pears while they are baking, preferably stuck into the flesh.

i had some star anise (and other herbs/spices) flavoured slow-roasted pork recently it was absolutely gorgeous

I always put a couple in when I make spag bol/lasagne. I saw it on a cookery programme once, makes it taste fantastic.

Yes - I've used it with pork too (also plums) and it's fabulous. I think that's why I was a bit nervous about putting it with chicken - feels very different. But... clearly not.

Spagh bol? Mmm... might give that a bash.