Is Anise good for you?

Is Anise good for you?

Anise is well known as a carminative and an expectorant. Its ability to decrease bloating and settle the digestive tract still is used today, especially in pediatrics. In high doses, it is used as an antispasmodic and an antiseptic and for the treatment of cough, asthma, and bronchitis.

Can you eat fennel raw?

The fennel bulb can be eaten raw or cooked — both have their perks! When raw, fennel is crunchy and sweet; once cooked, it becomes silky soft. Raw or cooked, fennel has a faint flavor of licorice or anise.

Is there a difference between anise and star anise?

The major culinary difference between anise and star anise is that anise seed is potent, with an almost spicy flavor, while star anise is subtly milder. They can be used interchangeably in recipes, but amounts must be adjusted to accommodate the mildness of the Asian ingredient.

Does fennel taste like anise?

Fennel bulb, which looks kind of like a cross between an onion and the base of a bunch of celery, has a sweet, perfumy, anise-like flavor. Rather than making food taste like licorice, though, fennel imparts a light, bright spring-like quality to foods.

How do you use star anise?

Star anise can be used whole or ground, and in both sweet and savory dishes. Use this fragrant spice whole to infuse flavor into tea, cocktails, soup broth, and even pasta sauce. The ground version can be used in baked good and is an ingredient in five spice powder.

Is there another name for fennel?

Although they share a similar taste profile—reminiscent of black licorice—fennel and anise are two different plants. The botanical name of anise is Pimpinella anisum while the botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. Both anise and fennel belong to the Apiaceae family.

Is there a substitute for star anise?

If you are making a dish that calls for whole star anise, then an effective substitute for star anise will be to use equal measures of aniseed and fennel seeds. Aniseed has a flavor and aroma that is very much similar to that of star anise although it is much milder and less nutty in taste.

Is fennel a vegetable?

The most common cultivated fennel plant is called Florence fennel, and most parts of the plant are edible: while the hollow fennel stalks can be a bit tough, its edible white bulb is treated as a vegetable and its leaves (which are similar in consistency to dill), fruits (colloquially called seeds), pollen, and …

What is fennel used for in cooking?

Thinly sliced raw fennel bulb adds a sweet licorice flavor and crunchy texture to salads. … Fennel stalks can take the place of celery in soups and stews, and can be used as a "bed" for roasted chicken and meats. Use fennel fronds as a garnish, or chop them and use as you would other herbs, like dill or parsley.

What does fennel taste like in soup?

The fennel bulb is crisp, like onion and has a slightly sweet taste. … Fennel bulbs can be braised and used in soups or stews, or they can be sautéed.

What are the fronds of a fennel bulb?

With its wispy fronds and bulbous base, fennel looks like a feather-topped, potbellied cousin to celery. But its flavor is remarkably different. The white bulb and bright green fronds have a gentle, slightly sweet anise flavor. The stalks are tough so usually not eaten.

How do you cook fennel heads?

1 lb of celery (more aromatic, cooks faster) + 1 tsp fennel seed or 1 tbsp Pernod (liqueur) OR 1 lb bok choy stems + 1 tsp fennel seed or 1 tbsp Pernod.

How do you grind fennel seeds?

To grind, either pound in a pestle and mortar, put them in a sealed bag and bash with a rolling pin or whizz up in a small, clean coffee grinder. To dry fry, heat up a pan, tip in the seeds and, over a medium heat, brown for a couple of minutes, tossing them around the pan frequently.

How do you cut a fennel bulb?

Fennel belongs to the Umbellifereae family and is therefore closely related to parsley, carrots, dill and coriander. Fennel's aromatic taste is unique, strikingly reminiscent of licorice and anise, so much so that fennel is often mistakenly referred to as anise in the marketplace.

Can I use cumin instead of fennel?

Fennel seed is versatile enough to be used in both savory and sweet dishes. It can be used as a cumin substitute in the sense that its flavor will not be odd or out of place in a recipe that calls for cumin. In addition, it will usually work well with the other flavors that typically show up in recipes using cumin.

Is fenugreek related to fennel?

One major difference between fenugreek and fennel seed is that the fenugreek seed is a legume, which means that it belongs to the bean family. The seeds are cuboid and yellowish. They have a passing resemblance to corn kernels. Fennel seeds come from the fennel plant and have an oval shape.

What can I use instead of saffron?

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family is the most widely recommended saffron substitute. It is similar enough that unscrupulous spice merchants have used it to adulterate real saffron. It provides a yellow color similar to that of saffron (when cooked).

What is Anna seed?

Anise is an herb. The seed (fruit) and oil, and less frequently the root and leaf, are used to make medicine. Anise is used for upset stomach, intestinal gas, “runny nose,” and as an expectorant to increase productive cough, as a diuretic to increase urine flow, and as an appetite stimulant.

Can I substitute caraway seeds for fennel seeds?

For starters, caraway is not as sweet as fennel and has somewhat a nutty note; however, there are rye bread recipes that can be made with either fennel seeds or caraway seeds. In many dishes, it can be an acceptable substitute.