Star Anise

Star anise is a super flavorful spice which I personally don't prefer to skip in my pulao, biryani, fried rice, kurma, fruit cake and a lot of meat based dishes. This is one spice that makes a huge difference when added to the above mentioned recipes. It has a strong liquorice taste, similar to that of fennel seeds. It may be used whole or in a powdered form. Star anise is also used in Chinese five-spice powder. A lot of Chinese recipes call for this traditional spice. It can also be used in teas, marinades, soups, meat and vegetable stew.