Star anise is a fragrant aniseed spice that can be used in both sweet and savoury recipes. It’s unique pungent flavour is pretty hard to replicate; but if you have realised you don’t have it, can’t find it, don’t like it, or just need an alternative for star anise, read on for the best star anise substitutes.
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What is Star anise?
Countries Used
Best alternative to star anise: Whole or ground star anise
Substitute 2: Chinese five-spice powder
Substitute 3: Fennel seeds
Substitute 4: Anise seeds / aniseeds
Substitute 5: Ground cloves and Cinnamon
FAQ
Star anise substitutes in particular dishes
More ingredient substitutes
What is Star anise?
Used in savoury and sweet cooking, the star anise pod (which is shaped like a star, hence its name) comes from the Chinese star anise plant (Illicium verum). Picked unripe and left to ripen in the sun, star anises distinctive anise flavour comes from anethol and tastes warm and sweet, and a little bit spicy with hints of black liqourice.
Countries Used
Chinese, Vietnamese (in pho), Indian (in biryanis) and Middle Eastern cooking. In Western cultures, it’s used in Sambuca, pastis, ouzo and for baking.
Best alternative to star anise: Whole or ground star anise
Whilst whole star anise pods are added to soups, stews and braised dishes, and marinades to infuse flavour before being removed at the end of cooking, ground star anise is used similarly to other ground spices.
Ratio: for 1 whole star anise, substitute ½ teaspoon ground star anise, and vice versa.
Best for:all recipes. However if you are using ground instead of whole star anise in drinks, strain the drinks; and if using whole star anise instead of ground remember to remove from the dish before serving.
Star anise is one of the main ingredients used in Chinese five spice, and the ingredient you are likely to taste above all other spices. For this reason, Chinese five spice is one of the best star anise substitutes.
Ratio: For each whole star anise / ½ teaspoon ground star anise, use ½ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder.
Best for: Chinese five-spice powder is one of the best alternatives to star anise, especially in savoury recipes and those with fatty meats such as pork and duck.
Substitute 3: Fennel seeds
Not as strong in flavour as star anise, fennel seeds are less sweet, but they can still work in dishes as an alternative to star anise.
Ratio: For 1 whole star anise, use ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds.
Best for:fennel seeds will work in most dishes, but pork dishes in particular.
Substitute 4: Anise seeds / aniseeds
Star anise and anise often get confused with one another, however the two spices are unrelated – the Anise is a member of the parsley family. Closest in sweet liqourice flavour to star anise.
Ratio: For 1 whole star anise, use ½ teaspoon of anise seeds
Using equal amounts of ground cloves and cinnamon to make a substitute for star anise.
Ratio: ½ teaspoon each of ground cloves plus ½ teaspoon cinnamon per ½ teaspoon of ground star anise or per whole star anise.
Best for: Meat dishes including stews and casseroles, or baking recipes like gingerbreads.
FAQ
Can I substitute star anise for anise seed?
You can substitute star anise for anise seed, although keep in mind they aren’t the same thing. Use ½ teaspoon of anise seeds for every whole star anise.
What part of star anise do you use?
You can use the whole of the star anise pod, including the seeds, to flavour a dish but remove before serving.
Can you eat star anise pods?
No. Star anise pods are hard and tough. You can add them to soups and stews for flavour, but remove the pods before serving to prevent them from becoming a choking hazard or breaking a tooth.
Star anise substitutes in particular dishes
The best substitute for star anise in pho
Use ½ a teaspoon of ground star anise or ½ teaspoon of Chinese five spice for every whole star anise required in the pho recipe.
The best substitute for star anise in mulled wine
You can use ground star anise in mulled wine and other drinks such as mulled cider, however make sure that you strain it before drinking.
When we speak of anise flavor, a few other herbs come into play: fennel and licorice. These three herbs have similar aromas and tastes due to a few shared chemical constituents. And these three herbs are used to describe the flavor profiles of some other well-known herbs.
The best star anise substitute? Chinese five spice powder! Star anise is one of the main ingredients in Chinese five spice powder, which also includes cinnamon, fennel, pepper and cloves. Use this substitution ratio: For 1 whole star anise, use ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice powder.
Although it does not have a strong licorice taste like anise seeds or Chinese five spice powder, it does give you that unique and pleasantly warm and woody flavor of star anise. You can use a 1:1 ratio for all allspice and star anise and add a little bit of sugar for a touch of sweetness like star anise.
The flavor, which is contained in both the seeds and the star itself, is very sweet and licorice-like, similar to aniseed (though the plants are not related). In China, which has used it for centuries, star anise is a key ingredient in five-spice powder (with cloves, cinnamon, fennel and Sichuan peppercorns).
Use 1 teaspoon of licorice flavoring/extract for 1 teaspoon of anise extract. Replace 1 teaspoon of anise extract with 1 to 2 tablespoons of anise-flavored liqueur (Anisette, Pastis, Ouzo, Galliano, Sambuca). Substitute 1/2 teaspoon of ground Chinese Five Spice for 1 teaspoon of anise extract.
Anise Seed. These two spices may both be called anise and have a licorice-like flavor. They are often confused with each other, but star anise and anise seed are harvested from different plants on opposite sides of the world.
Both spices are known for their licorice flavor. “It's different from cinnamon but it's in that same flavor profile of sweetness,” says Cardoz. Star anise is also an ingredient that's traditionally found in Chinese five-spice powder, along with cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds.
Using equal amounts of ground cloves and cinnamon to make a substitute for star anise. Ratio: ½ teaspoon each of ground cloves plus ½ teaspoon cinnamon per ½ teaspoon of ground star anise or per whole star anise.
anisatum. 4 Given the difficulty of distinguishing between these species, star anise should not be administered to children. In all infants with acute neurological or digestive symptoms with no known cause, we should inquire about the use of star anise in tea or as gripe water.
These are two very different tastes: anise is freshy with a distinctive aroma than resembles licorice whereas cumin is on the earthy side of the palette. thanks. I have coriander seeds. I am thinking of crushing them rather than grinding, to get a little texture like in cumin.
It has a unique flavor that is often described as similar to licorice. While it may not have the exact same flavor profile as nutmeg, it can still be used in place of nutmeg in savory dishes for a peppery and spicy taste.
The combination of these two ingredients creates a taste similar to star anise. An equal mix of a teaspoon of caraway seeds and dried tarragon can replace star anise in a recipe. Caraway seeds can become bitter the longer they are cooked so they should be added in toward the end of cooking.
Fennel seeds and star anise are both great substitutes for anise seed. Fresh fennel bulbs and fronds also offer a similar flavor profile, but are milder tasting and not as conveniently substituted in various dishes.
Moreover, in China, star anise was a currency to pay taxes. The value of star anise is also due to its virtues. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine. In India, it is used as incense, imagine the sweet smell of aniseed in your home.
Using equal amounts of ground cloves and cinnamon to make a substitute for star anise. Ratio: ½ teaspoon each of ground cloves plus ½ teaspoon cinnamon per ½ teaspoon of ground star anise or per whole star anise. Best for: Meat dishes including stews and casseroles, or baking recipes like gingerbreads.
Whole and ground star anise are used differently in cooking. The whole pods are used in simmering dishes such as soups, stews and braised meats. The pod is added to infuse a warm and spicy layer and is removed at the end of the cooking time. A ground version of star anise is available in a powder form.
“It's different from cinnamon but it's in that same flavor profile of sweetness,” says Cardoz. Star anise is also an ingredient that's traditionally found in Chinese five-spice powder, along with cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds.
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