Chinese Five Spice Recipe

Make this Chinese five spice recipe at home; it’s less expensive than buying it! 5 spice adds incredible flavor to many Asian dishes.

5 spice powder is a unique blend that is supposedly based on the five elements found on Earth.

However, it’s more commonly known for containing all five culinary tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. This makes it a staple in any cook’s kitchen.

Make your own from scratch for rich flavor without the preservatives and other additives.

Chinese Five Spice Recipe

Cuisine: Asian / Chinese

This spice blend is very common in both Chinese and Taiwanese cooking. It adds plenty of heat and flavor to dishes like Shumai.

Alternate names/spellings: 5 spice, five spice powder

Use: Pantry spice

Uses for 5 Spice

While it can be used in almost anything, not just Asian cuisine, here are some of the most popular uses:

• Stews and broths
  
• Marinades and sauces
  
• In breading for fried foods
  
• Rub for meat or vegetables
  
• Glaze with honey or molasses
  
• In salad dressings

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Note: This is just a partial list of ingredients. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Cinnamon stick - In order to toast cinnamon with the other spices, it needs to be in its stick form. Ground cinnamon can be substituted if needed, but the flavor won’t be as strong in the spice blend.
  
• Sichuan peppercorns - These come from the seeds of the prickly ash shrub and aren’t considered any hotter than regular black peppercorns.
  
  However, the spice has a tingly, mouth-numbing effect that can enhance the spiciness and any flavors it’s combined with. If you can’t find these, black peppercorns can be used instead.

All you need to make this recipe is a small skillet and a spice grinder. Then toast and grind the spices for a homemade spice blend in just a few minutes!

Video: Making Chinese Five Spice Recipe

Want to see this recipe in action? Just watch the video located in the recipe card at the bottom of post!

Instructions

1. Toast the spices: Add everything to a dry pan and toast over medium heat until fragrant. This will enhance the flavors and release any oils.
   
2. Cool: Transfer the spices to a small bowl or dish and allow them to cool completely to preserve their aromas.
   
3. Grind: Use a coffee or spice grinder to combine the spices into a fine powder.

Recipe notes

• Storage - Keep the spice blend in a sealed jar for up to 1 month. While it won’t go bad after that, it will lose its potency over time.
  
• Larger batch - If you use a lot of Chinese Five Spice, feel free to double or triple the recipe so you always have enough on hand.
  
• Save time - Toasting the spices is not required and can be skipped if you’re in a hurry.
  
• Different varieties - The blend of ingredients can vary based on region and even household. While this recipe uses the five most common spices, other blends may contain orange peel, ginger root, nutmeg, turmeric, or cardamom.

Chinese 5 Spice Substitutes

For a similar blend, combine the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Then replace the fennel seeds and peppercorns with ground ginger instead.

Or, try one of these other spice blends instead. None of them will have the same combination of flavors, but they will add the necessary spice and heat.

• Cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and ground cloves
• Allspice with a pinch of ginger
• Garam masala with star anise
• Splash of sambuca liqueur

This post, first published on Silk Road Recipes July 30, 2020, was last updated with new content on Sept. 15, 2021.

Chinese Five Spice

Make this Chinese five spice recipe at home; it’s less expensive than buying it! 5 spice adds incredible flavor to many Asian dishes.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Pantry Staples

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 3kcal

Author: Kevin

Ingredients

• 1 stick cinnamon 3-inch stick or 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
• 2 teaspoon cloves
• 2 star anise

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Add the spices to a small saute pan (except ground cinnamon if using). Toast over medium heat until fragrant. Transfer the spices into a small bowl to cool.
• Once cooled, transfer toasted spices and ground cinnamon (if using) to a coffee or spice grinder. Blitz to a fine powder. Transfer to an airtight jar.

*The information shown below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 3kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg