There are many spices that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, but Five Spice powder is truly a versatile mix for all dishes. The name comes from the five spices that usually make up the spice: star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel or cardamom. You can buy pre-made Five Spice, but it's really fun to make your own if you have a spice grinder. You can definitely use a coffee grinder; just make sure it hasn't been used to grind coffee.
I first had Five Spice Duck years ago and tried to recreate it during the holidays. I made up this recipe based on my memories, and it turned out really well. It seems like duck is harder to find than it used to be, but this would work with chicken. Just make sure to watch the roasting time, as the duck skin is much thicker than a chicken's.
Five Spice Duck
Ingredients
- 4 pound whole duck
- 1-inch piece of ginger
- 5 peppercorns
- 2 scallions, sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
- 1 clementine or other small orange, halved
- 1 tbsp Five Spice powder
Five Spice Powder
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken into small pieces
- 4 cardamom pods
- 1 tbsp peppercorns
- 1 tsp cloves
- 4 star anise pods
Instructions
- Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place the duck in a deep roasting pan (there will be a lot of fat to catch). If you don’t have a rack, use crumpled foil to keep the duck off the bottom of the pan. Pat dry and wash your hands.
- Grind Five Spice ingredients to a fine powder.
- Put peppercorns, ginger, and scallions in a spice bag and place, along with the ginger and half an orange, into the cavity of the duck. Rub duck all over with Five Spice power. Wash hands.
- Roast duck for 3-4 hours, until tender.
Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs wild-caught salmon fillet, skin-on
- 2 tbsp Five Spice powder
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Scallions and sesame seeds (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the Five Spice powder, maple syrup, soy sauce, butter, ginger, and garlic until fully combined. Salt and pepper to taste and divide in half.
- Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet and pour half the glaze over the salmon. Wash hands.
- Bake the salmon for 12-15 minutes; remove and brush with the remaining glaze. For a caramelized finish, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Let the salmon rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Five Spice Apple Pie
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted cold butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup ice water
- 6 cups apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp five-spice powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and butter. Use a pastry cutter or fork to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together.
- Divide the dough into two equal parts, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss the apple slices with the sugar, five-spice powder, and lemon juice until evenly coated.
- Roll out one disc of dough on a floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie dish. Transfer the dough to the dish, trimming any excess.
- Fill the pie crust with the apple mixture, mounding slightly in the center.
- Roll out the second disc of dough and place it over the apples. Trim, seal, and crimp the edges. Cut a few slits in the top to let steam escape.
- Brush the top crust with lightly beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
- Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Let the pie cool slightly before slicing to allow the filling to set.
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