Topic: Star Anise

[976bar]

Hi All,

Is Star Anise ever used in indian cooking? I have never seen it in any of the recipes on here?

I got a Lamb Bhuna from my local restaurant on Saturday, (which has now been taken over by retired Ghurkas, and now offers nepalise as well as Indian), and I got a distinct flavour of Star Anise in the dish which actually tasted very nice......

I was just wondering if anyone else uses it in their indian dishes?

[parker21]

hi bar
yes i do use it in rice dishes, can understand why you got it in a bhuna as i use it in adapted(portion wise )when i cook Bruce edwards curryhouse cookery chicken chill masala the aroma given off when frying the fine chopped onions/peppers/chillies is fantastic. it is also used in his recipe for pilau rice. it's properties are used for arthritis suffers as are many other spices that have 2 uses in cooking and medicinal!
hope this helps
regards
gary

[JerryM]

star anis for me is simply fantastic.

i use it now in every base i make adding it whole and removing before blending (1 off per 800g onion).

there is a post on its affect on onion but it's the flavour that i'm tuned into.

[mickdabass]

Hi bar
I love star anise!
I use it in Blades chicken tikka recipe.
I use 2 stars to pep up the flavour.
I grind them up in the mortar & pestle first.
Works for me!!
I haven't tried them in a base yet, but if they're good enough for JerryM then its definitely worth a try!
 

[adriandavidb]

I use star anise in base, along with certain other whole spices: cloves, bay, peppercorns