star anise

[aseay]

its in a red cooking liquid i want to make that includes 1 whole star anise. never heard of it or seen it. the note in the cookbook says its an asian or latin food. couldnt find it in grocery,prob because i dont know what 2 look for! anyone heard of it?

laura

 

[famousohara]

Hi Laura,

You should be able to find it in the spice section. If you're not having any luck, Asian grocers usually carry it.

Hope that helps.

Mo

 

[LauraMax]

Isn't that used in mixed drinks? I'm trying to think back to my bartending days--if I remember correctly it was used in heavy, sweet drinks. You might try your local liquor store.

 

[aseay]

so its a spice? i guess it cant be omitted if it is. maybe theres a sub if i cant find it?

laura

 

[TeTe]

LM, I believe you're thinking of Anisette.

 

[PhyllisG]

Yes I use it in Indian cooking. It smells wonderful and is a small dried red/brown color shaped sort of like a star. Try the spice section. I buy it in an Indian grocery.

 

[nenita]

Hi,

I have seen it sold in our local grocery stores. If you have Albertsons where you live, they'll have it. It's not where the bottled spices are. It's usually in a plastic bag with all the other spices that are in plastic bags. Like someone said, it is shaped just like a star and has a reddish-brown color. It is also popular in Chinese cooking, as well as Indian cooking so oriental food and indian food stores should have them too.

-Nenita

 

[kathryn]

Do you have a food co-op, or natural food store nearby? The ones that sell herbs and spices in bulk (displayed in large jars with scoops, so you buy whatever amount you want?) That's the first place I'd look (I used to be co-manager of a food co-op, and we carried star anise).

Star anise has a somewhat liquorishy flavor (and it's very pretty--a star-shaped brown 'pod' with a seed in each 'arm' of the star).

 

[Miss Lee]

If you can't find star anise you can always substitute with either anise seeds or fennel seeds. Fennel has a milder flavor.