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Anise, the spice with personality

Write: Tomás Franco. Author of the book Manual for Spices

The small seeds of the Pimpinella anisum L. They have been cultivated since ancient times to be used as a spice and medicinal plant. Its presence in products is well known sweets and spirits.  In southern Spain it is also known as Matalahúva or matalahúga. Its smell is very aromatic and characteristic with a slightly sweet flavor with a trait of licorice. This is the anise, of which we will tell you more details below.

El anise It comes from the East and the Mediterranean Regions, where it is grown in country areas not too high. Its cultivation is widespread, with Spain being one of the main producers along with France, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Turkey and India.

Anise plant
Anise plant / Photo: Green Ecology

Nutritional composition

Energy (kJ / 100 g) 1739
Energy (kcal / 100 g) 414
Carbohydrates (g / 100 g) 50,0
Total fat (g / 100 g) 15,9
     Saturated fat (g / 100 g) 0,6
     Monounsaturated fat (g / 100 g) 9,8
     Polyunsaturated fat (g / 100 g) 3,2
Proteins (g / 100 g) 17,7
MINERALS  
     Calcium (Ca) (mg / 100 g) 647
     Copper (Cu) (mg / 100 g) 1
     Phosphorus (P) (mg / 100 g) 440
     Iron (Fe) (mg / 100 g) 37
     Magnesium (Mg) (mg / 100 g) 170
     Manganese (Mn) (mg / 100 g) 2
     Potassium (K) (mg / 100 g) 1441
     Selenium (Se) (mg / 100 g) 5
     Sodium (Na) (mg / 100 g) 16
     Zinc (Zn) (mg / 100 g) 5
VITAMINS  
     Vit. A (retinol) (IU / 100 g) 311
     Vit. B1 (thiamine) (mg / 100 g) 0,3
     Vit. B2 (riboflavin) (mg / 100 g) 0,3
     Vit. B3 (niacin) (mg / 100g) 3,1
     Vit. B5 (pantothenic acid) (mg / 100 g) 0,8
     Vit. B6 (pyridoxine) (mg / 100 g) 0,7
     Vit. B9 (folic acid) (μg / 100 g) 10
     Vit. C (ascorbic acid) (mg / 100 g) 21

Anise in the kitchen

El anise it's used on confectionery and pastry for the production of cookies, cakes, biscuits, cakes, etc. Certainly known is German bread or Austrian Christmas cakes, Central European coffee cakes, Italian cookies, apple pies and a myriad of sweet-tasting products, including of course the manufacture of candies. It is very popular as flavoring In the manufacture of drinks and spirits aniseed in Mediterranean countries, such as Pernod, Ouzo, Anisete or Pastís.

Photo: Tomás Franco
Anise spice / Photo: Tomás Franco

In the kitchen she gets along with cloves, ginger and vanilla although it should be used in moderation so that its strong flavor does not mask the others. Particularly useful in soups and sauces, with fish and poultry, it also adds a pleasant flavor to stews and stews. Its great affinity with fresh fruits is reflected in compotes and fruit salads, particularly congenial with figs. Also with fruit in syrup and custard.

All the fresh anise leaves They can be eaten as a vegetable in salads or boiled with other vegetables. Anise is widely used by the meat industry in processed meat products. Meanwhile he anise oil It is used in pharmacy to flavor syrups and pills.

Anise cookies

There is nothing better than these delicious anise cookies to enjoy all its flavor.

Ingredients

  • 250 grams of butter
  • 225 g sugar
  • 3 drops of vanilla essence
  • 2 tablespoons of rum
  • 1 tablespoon of milk
  • 8 gr of ground anise seeds
  • 340 gr de harina
  • egg yolk with milk
  • seeds of anise whole
  • powdered sugar

Preparation

  • Place the butter on the fire until it turns golden and then let it cool.
  • When it is cold, add the sugar, the vanilla essence, the rum, the milk and the ground anise seeds.
  • Then add the flour and mix very well to make a paste.
  • Turn the dough out onto a table and knead it into long, thin cylinders.
  • Let cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • Then cut slices about 4 cm thick, which are placed on a buttered baking sheet.
  • Paint the cookies with egg yolk mixed with milk, and sprinkle with whole anise seeds and powdered sugar.
  • Place in the oven until they turn golden.
Photo: The art of kneading- Anise cookies
Anise cookies / Photo: The art of kneading

Anise in health

All the Anise seeds are a mild expectorant, used to relieve coughs and asthma. It is also a good appetite tonic that increases the appetite, being quite well tolerated by children. Taken after meals it acts as effective digestive, with an important carminative effect, since it relaxes the smooth muscle of the sphincters, favoring the elimination of gases.

If you want to enjoy it as a healthy ally, it is prepared in infusion crushing 2 grams of seeds of anise in 100 ml of boiling water or milk. Let stand for 10 minutes and then filter and drink while still hot.

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