Chinese Five-Spice Substitute Blend

This Chinese five-spice substitute blend adds a warm, earthy, and slightly sweet flavor to Asian recipes. For a more flavorful and affordable option, make your own 5 spice blend at home!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Chinese five-spice powder is a staple in many Chinese dishes, but it can be expensive to buy at the store. Plus, store-bought five-spice powder often contains fillers and artificial flavors.

• Easy to make. Only requires five ingredients, mixing, and storage jars.
• Economical. Much more affordable than store-bought five-spice powder.
• No fillers. Your homemade five spice blend will have no preservatives, fillers, and you can even use organic spices.
• Versatile. Chinese 5 spice can be used in a variety of dishes, from stir-fries to roasted meats to desserts like carrot cake, fruit cake, and spice cookies.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Chinese 5 Spice Substitute Ingredients
• How to Make Chinese Five Spice Blend
• Serving Suggestions
• Related Recipes
• Substitutions and Variations
• Equipment
• Storage and Reheating
• Tips for Success
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Food Safety
• Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
• Connect with Smells Like Delish!
• 📖 Recipe

Chinese 5 Spice Substitute Ingredients

Save money by making this Chinese Five-Spice substitute blend at home! You probably have everything except the Szechuan peppercorns already, and you get easily get those in the specialty aisle, or from Amazon.

• Cinnamon - Use ground cinnamon, Ceylon or Saigon variety.
• Fennel - Use ground fennel, or use a spice grinder to grind fennel seeds.
• Star Anise - Ground Star Anise.
• Cloves - Ground Clove powder.
• Szechuan peppercorn - Look for ground Szechuan peppercorns, or grind in a spice grinder.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Chinese Five Spice Blend

While Chinese five-spice powder is readily available at most grocery stores, it is also easy to make at home. This recipe for Chinese five-spice substitute is even better than store-bought, and it is sure to add a delicious flavor boost to your favorite Chinese dishes.

Grind and Measure Spices

1. If you're using whole spices, grind them up fine first. Then, measure out the quantities in the recipe.

Mix The Spices

2. Mix all the spice until evenly blended, making sure any lumps are broken up.

Store In Air Tight Jars

3. Transfer the 5 spice substitute to spice jars, mason jar, or even rubber sealed bail jars. Store in a cool, dark pantry location.

Serving Suggestions

This Chinese five-spice substitute can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are a few ideas:

• Stir-fries: Add a teaspoon of this Chinese 5 spice blend to your favorite stir-fry for a flavorful boost.
• Braises: Rub a teaspoon of spice blend into meat or poultry before braising for a delicious and tender dish.
• Marinades: Add a tablespoon of spice blend to your favorite marinade for a flavorful and juicy dish.
• Roasted vegetables: Toss your favorite vegetables with a teaspoon of spice blend before roasting for a delicious and healthy side dish.

Some recipes to try this popular Asian spice blend are:

• Bonchon Chicken Soy Garlic Wings
• Panda Express Beef and Broccoli
• Miso Baked Branzino
• Thai Cashew Chicken
• Steamed Mantou Buns

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Related Recipes

• Italian Seasoning Substitute Recipe
• Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute
• Apple Pie Spice Substitute Recipe
• Best Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Pan Grilled Steakhouse Pork Chops

Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few easy variations using this Chinese five spice substitute recipe as a base:

• If you don't have Sichuan peppercorns, you can substitute black peppercorns or ground white pepper.
• To make a milder spice blend, you can reduce the amount of cloves or star anise.
• To make a spicier spice blend, you can add more Sichuan peppercorns.

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this Chinese 5 Spice substitute.

• Nitrile Gloves
• Disposable Face Mask
• Rounded Ball Canning Jars, 8 oz
• Quilted Mason Jars, small 4 oz
• Spice Jars and Label Set

Storage and Reheating

• Store this spice blend in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Tips for Success

• You can use this spice blend in a variety of dishes, from stir-fries to marinades to desserts.
• To make a larger batch of five-spice powder, simply double or triple the recipe.
• You can use this spice blend in sweet dishes also. It would be great in cookies, cakes, and pies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Food Safety

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
• Wash hands after touching raw meat.
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love

Connect with Smells Like Delish!

📖 Recipe