When things are absolutely delicious it’s easy to forget all the other good things they add to our diets and wellbeing.
Traditional Chinese flavours are amazingly nourishing and healing for our digestive systems. This keto friendly, sugar free Chinese Spice blend is no exception.
What makes it soo good?
- Packed with antioxidant properties: Sichuan pepper, ginger, and coriander are rich in antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Digestive Health: Cumin, fennel, ginger, and coriander have been used for centuries to aid digestion. They can stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, promote healthy gut motility, and alleviate symptoms of indigestion or bloating.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Sichuan pepper, ginger, and coriander, possess anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation in the body and alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Metabolism Boost: Ginger and Sichuan pepper have been shown to increase metabolism and promote fat burning.
- Blood Sugar Regulation: Ginger and coriander have been studied for their potential to regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
What is Sichuan Pepper?
Sichuan pepper is a spice that comes from the province of Sichuan in China. It is also called Szechuan pepper or Chinese pepper. Sichuan pepper is not really a pepper, despite its name. It comes from the husks of the berries of the prickly ash tree.
What makes Sichuan pepper taste different is that it has a citrusy, floral, and slightly cooling effect on the tongue. It is often used to add heat, flavour, and aroma to Chinese food, especially Sichuanese and Hunanese recipes.
Sichuan pepper has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its supposed health effects, as well as in cooking. Traditional Chinese medicine uses it to aide digestion, stimulate appetite and is said to also have antibacterial properties.
You can use whole or ground Sichuan pepper in many recipes, like soups, stir-fries, marinades, and sauces. It goes well with veggies, meats, poultry, seafood, and a lot of different kinds of seafood.
Where to buy Sichuan Pepper
You can find it in some Coles and Woolies stores. We typically buy in from our local Asian supermarkets (which is cheaper).
If you can’t find sichuan pepper for this spice blend, you can substitute it for black pepper. It won’t have the elevated citrusy, floral and tongue tingling effects but it will still be extremely tasty. You’re not missing out entirely because Chinese Five Spice has a small amount of sichuan pepper in the mix.