Barbecue Seasoning
Kao Rou Fen (烤肉粉)
Spicy, Fragrant, Delicious - Chinese Barbecue Seasoning hits every taste bud in just the right way with salt, five spice, red chilies, cumin, and Sichuan pepper.
Barbecue Seasoning is made from a mix of seasonings and ground chilies combined with a classic Chinese Five Spice Base. It’s spicy and salty but also aromatic and ultra-flavorful. Cumin adds a natural smokiness that when combined with a touch of flame, ignites the taste buds with grilled perfection.
While Sichuan pepper is normally included within Chinese Five Spice Powder, I have substituted it with Bay Leaves and added it to the section on Chilies. This is because the entire section of the Five Spice Base can be replaced with store-bought Chinese Five Spice Powder or with Chinese Thirteen Spice Powder. However, freshly ground Sichuan pepper adds an important element that the store-bought powder simply can’t replicate. Good Sichuan BBQ needs that mouth-numbing, tingly Sichuan pepper. So, to keep a good balance of seasonings, I have adjusted my Five Spice Base accordingly. If you would like to make classic five spice or thirteen spice, click one of the following links: Chinese Five Spice Powder or Chinese Thirteen Spice Powder.
There is a lot of freedom within this recipe, and Barbecue Seasoning in China has a limitless number of variations. Generally, Barbecue Seasonings will be made of Chinese Thirteen Spice or Five Spice Powder combined with Salt, MSG, Cumin, Sichuan Pepper, and Chili Powder. These are the core flavors and anything else is meant to compliment these. Therefore, you can adjust the following ingredients to your liking, so long as you keep a good balance of the aforementioned seasonings. For instance, less Chili Powder can be used if wanting a milder heat. Often Chinese barbecue vendors will have two seasoning mixes: one spicy and one mild. And you can do the same.
The following recipe lists two different types of Dried Red Chilies common to Sichuan cuisine. These are ‘Facing Heaven’ Chili Peppers (朝天椒), which are quite spicy, and Lantern Chilies (灯笼椒), which are rather fragrant. If you’re unable to find Sichuan chilies, you can substitute with any dried red chilies, preferably one type that is spicy and one that’s fragrant. You can use about 15 dried red chilies to make the following recipe. You can also simply substitute the dried red chilies with two or more tablespoons of a spicy red chili powder such as cayenne pepper powder.
A super Quick’n’Easy Barbecue Seasoning is provided after the main recipe for a no hassle version. However, this seasoning won’t be as good as the one made with freshly ground spices.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. Five Spice Base:
1 Star Anise
1 Bay Leaf
1/2 stick of Cassia Bark (OR Cinnamon)
2 tsp. Fennel Seeds
1/4 tsp. Cloves
Pre-Ground Seasonings
1 1/2 Tbsp. Salt
3/4 Tbsp. MSG
1/2 Tbsp. Chicken Bouillon Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. ground Cumin
1 tsp. ground Ginger
1/2 tsp Ground White Pepper
Chilies
4 Tbsp. of Red Chili Powder:
5 – 10 Spicy Dried Red Chilies (Facing Heaven Chili Peppers)
12 Fragrant Dried Red Chilies (Lantern Chilies)
1 Tbsp. Green Sichuan Pepper Powder (Freshly Ground)
Unground Seasonings
1 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds
1 tsp. Cumin Seeds
Directions
1.) Place all of the Five Spice Base (Cinnamon, Cloves, Fennel Seeds, Star Anise, and Bay Leaves) into a wok or skillet and heat on low, gently tossing occasionally until the spices are fragrant.
(USE your nose! DO NOT burn the spices. The purpose of toasting is just to deepen the flavor slightly and not to cook the spices. If using pre-made Five Spice Powder or Thirteen Spice Powder, skip to step Three).
2.) Once smelling nice, pour the spices into a blender or spice grinder and blend until a fine powder is achieved. Pour the ground spices through a wire sieve into a bowl to strain out the large ungroundable pieces. Then, return about 1 Tablespoon of the fine powder back to the blender.
3.) Add all of the Pre-ground Seasonings (Salt, White Pepper, Chicken Bouillon, MSG, Garlic, Ginger, and Cumin) to the blender, and blend them with the Five Spice Base until smooth. Pour the seasoning mix through a wire sieve into a large mixing bowl to separate any hard bits of spices.
4.) Snip the Dried Red Chilies in half using kitchen shears and remove most of the seeds. Place the Chilies into a bowl.
5.) Heat a dry wok on low heat until hot and add the Chilies, toasting them just until fragrant.
(DO NOT burn the Chilies!)
6.) Pour the Chilies into a blender and blend on high into a fine chili powder. Add this, along with the Sichuan Pepper, to the bowl with the Five Spice Base and Pre-ground Seasonings.
7.) Finally, to this bowl, add the Un-ground Seasonings (Sesame Seeds and Cumin Seeds) and use a whisk to mix everything thoroughly. Store the finished Barbecue Seasoning in an airtight jar and use liberally. The flavor should last at least two months, but is best within one month of making.
Quick and Easy BBQ Seasoning
This version of BBQ Seasoning can be seen in my recipe for Sizzling Spicy Five Spice Chicken Legs (麻辣五香鸡腿). It’s a great quick seasoning mix that can be used liberally with grilled and fried food for an extra boost of spicy, salty flavor. The ingredients are all quite easy to come by and can be tossed together in a matter of seconds. Even though this is a quick version, still use good ingredients and the freshest spices available.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. Red Chili Powder
1 tsp. Chinese Five Spice Powder (OR Chinese Thirteen Spice Powder)
1/2 tsp. Chicken Bouillon Powder
1/2 tsp. freshly ground Green Sichuan Pepper
1/2 tsp. MSG
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp. Ginger Powder
1/4 tsp. ground Cumin
1/4 tsp. ground White Pepper
1/4 tsp. White Sugar
1/2 tsp. Cumin Seeds
1/2 tsp. Sesame Seeds
Directions
1.) Mix everything together in a bowl using a whisk. Store the finished Barbecue Seasoning in an airtight jar and use liberally. The flavor should last at least two months, but is best used within one month of making.
Contribute to Sichuan Soul
Sichuan Soul is funded in part thanks to generous contributions by fans like you! Your donations supply Sichuan Soul with the funding needed to provide quality recipes and photos. All donations are processed safely and securely through PayPal. You can donate any amount using the 'Donate' button below. Thank you for your support.
Comments
Post a Comment