I replaced the tuna with salmon in this fresh spring salad.
Star anise is the dried fruit of the yellow, daffodil-like flower of the Illicium verum tree that opens in the shape of an eight-pointed star. These fruits are picked before they are ripe. So that the round, shiny seeds are still there. Star anise would look very similar to aniseed in taste and smell, but I would never replace one with the other. Star anise has the warm, deep smell of Pastis while anis seed also has a bit of the smell of hay. Can be nice, but is clearly different.
Also very tasty: let star anise cook in hot milk.
Heston Blumenthal uses this in its spaghetti sauce to increase the umami content, but be careful, is very fast predominant. I mostly use it in Chinese soups or broths. Perfect for adding to a chicken stock for flavouring. Use only 1 star anise per 2 litres stock.
From: Robin's website http://www.aziatische-ingredienten.nl
I replaced the tuna with salmon in this fresh spring salad.
