Five-spice powder is available from Chinese grocers, and is becoming more widely available in supermarkets too. A good blend should be fragrant and spicy but also slightly sweet.

When fresh and fragrant, a spice mix is the ultimate flavor shortcut: You get the benefits of a handful of spices but only have to buy one jar. They’re like footie pajamas (shirt, pants, and socks) ...

Chinese five-spice powder is used in many Asian dishes and is a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Szechwan peppercorns. It can be found in the spice section of the supermarket.