Today's Spice is: Chinese 5-Spice!
Most of the dishes I've made for MoFo this year have been new discoveries, but there's pretty much one reason why I bought this big jar of Chinese 5-Spice, and it's such a favorite recipe that I just decided to make it again...
from Vegetarian Suppers, by Deborah Madison
I love this dish so much, and I've made it quite a few times over the years. There's tempeh, bell peppers, red cabbage, mirin, tamari sauce, and just a hint of Chinese 5-Spice. It's a great one pot meal - veggies, colors, salty, a touch of sweet, spicey flavors! Chinese 5-Spice has a really strong (and lovely) flavor, so a little bit goes a long way. You can most definitely taste it in the dinner, even though there's only a 1/4 tsp in the whole recipe. According to Wikipedia the five spices in Chinese 5-spice are: star anise, cinnamon, cloves, Sichuan pepper, and fennel. What a combo!
While I was on my C5S roll, I decided to make some cookies with it for a friend. This recipe for "Chinese 5-Spice Cookies with Almonds" comes from Eat, Drink & Be Vegan, by Dreena Burton. I've made them before, a long time ago, and they are really nice. Here the C5S is not at all overpowering, but a great compliment to a grown-up cookie. 
Bonus Cookies
(MoFoDisclaimo: no C5S here)
I also made a batch of these Chocolate Mint Melties, -- also from Eat, Drink and Be Vegan -- for my friend. These are one of my favorite cookies of all time, and this batch turned out perfectly - beautiful, chunky, and super yum (yes, I tested one... just to be sure!).
The Vietnamese sandwich from Veganomicon, with the 5-spice dipping broth, is my favorite thing ever. So I have a big jar of 5-spice, and no idea what else to use it for. Thanks for the suggestions! I really want to make those almond cookies now.
ReplyDeleteThat tofu looks super yummy!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of five spice but I never end up using it. I will definitely put these dishes on my "to make" list, and use that C5S up! (Also I love the name C5S! And your drawings!)
ReplyDeleteAnd when you said, "Made for my friend..." you were referring to me, right??!
ReplyDeleteI love your theme! How brilliant is your theme! So clever and looks delicious too. I want a cookie now! Yummy! Shall we swap links? I'd love to put you on my blog! I'm going to RSS you right now also! Lovely of you to stop by. Thank you so much! Spice on! xox
ReplyDeleteI always meant to make those 5 spice cookies but I never have. Thanks for the reminder, yours look great!
ReplyDeleteI've never used Chinese 5 Spice but I really want to and I think I want to try your favourite dish with mushrooms instead of tempeh.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love those mint melty cookies so much, great recipe.
Sweet! I just made a Massaman curry with C5S and now I have new ways to use it. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that bowl of tempeh, peppers & rice looks amazing. I'll have to make it after MoFo! I've bookmarked those cookies too, yum!
ReplyDelete5 spice... I loooooove five spice! Five spice and tempeh you say? I'm going to have to look that up...
ReplyDeleteYou are killing me with the drawings! They are just too cute. The tempeh looks so perfectly glazed here!
ReplyDelete