Homemade Chinese Five Spice As a Rub
Elevate your cooking game with this quick and easy Homemade Chinese Five Spice Rub—a bold and aromatic seasoning blend inspired by traditional Chinese cuisine. Perfectly balanced with warm cinnamon, licorice-like star anise, earthy fennel seeds, pungent cloves, and the numbing heat of Sichuan peppercorns, this DIY rub promises to infuse your dishes with robust, complex flavors. Optional additions like black peppercorns, salt, or a hint of brown sugar let you customize the mix for a touch of heat, balance, or sweetness. Ready in just five minutes, this versatile spice blend is ideal for seasoning meats, seafood, tofu, or vegetables before grilling, roasting, or pan-frying. Store it in an airtight container for up to six months, and enjoy restaurant-quality Chinese-inspired dishes from the comfort of your own kitchen.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Star anise
- 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon Cloves
- 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
- 0.5 teaspoon White or black peppercorns (optional, for added spice)
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt (optional, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Brown sugar (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
Instructions
Measure out all the spices: cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, and optional ingredients like extra peppercorns, salt, or brown sugar.
Using a clean spice grinder, a high-powered blender, or a mortar and pestle, add each of the whole spices (star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, and peppercorns). Grind them into a fine powder.
Combine the freshly ground spice powder with cinnamon and any optional salt or brown sugar in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed.
Taste your spice blend (carefully, as it is potent). Adjust the seasoning to your liking by adding more sweet or salty notes as needed.
Store the five-spice rub in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months to maintain its freshness and aroma.
Use as a rub by coating meats, seafood, tofu, or vegetables before grilling, roasting, or pan-frying.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
55 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 1.1 g | 1% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1111 mg | 48% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 13.3 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.3 g | 19% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.4 g | ||
| Protein | 1.2 g | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 113 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 2.1 mg | 12% | |
| Potassium | 125 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
