I looked at that photo for a long time, and didn't realize that wasn't a jar full of insects until I started reading the post lol

Star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves are also great additions for rice, both as a side dish or as part of other dishes (e.g., biryani).

Whole star anise keeps for a while. I've had the same batch for about five years now and it's still incredibly potent. So certainly, continue with learning how to use it, but don't stress about going through all of it in a short period of time.

Any kind of savory soup, just toss one or two in. Took me a few years, but managed to use up my star anise that way.

Recipes I use Anise in: Pho, Tho Kha, any kind of sugar cookie, Chili (not always, but good with certain chilies), Tea (especially cinnamon teas), Glogg (Mulled wine - HUGE hit in the winter), spiced apples or pears, pickled or fermented punch or ginger bug sodas, Ice Cream (fantastic addition to spiced flavors like Cinnamon or Ginger).

In general, of you see a need to use Cinnamon or Ginger in something, chances are Anise can be dropped in to compliment it.

You can add one star anis, a couple of cardamon pods and coarsely ground black pepper to the water when cooking basmati rice

I just made a giant jar of chili crunch mostly adhering to this recipe. I made mine mild and used four entire star anise pods. (btw chili crunch is pretty much the best condiment you'll ever have in your life, and oh my god you have a lot of star anise)

You can heat up milk with star anise to make fresh warm anise milk!

I figured I might try to make some kind of beverage and maybe some soft candy.

This is neither a beverage nor a soft candy, but my favorite anise-containing food is a German cookie, springerle.

You can make your own Chinese Five Spice, I highly recommend it! You probably have all the ingredients already. Store in a glass and a cool, dry and dark place and it will last long.

Those peas are my grandparents’ favorite brand of peas. They’re not mushy but I add them last so they’re not crushed by utensils. I’ve used them in fried rice before and my family makes Chicken Guisantes with those peas. It must be that brand or else…

EDIT: Wait, what?!? 99¢!?! You’re so lucky! I have to make a special trip to some Asian supermarket or H-Mart to get those and they’re not 99¢, lol! Enjoy!

The ramen eggs I make use a few star anise for the marinade!

I think ivneed new glasses because I swear that looked like a jar of spiders for a good 10 seconds before I realized it was Anise

Star Anise keeps a while so you can keep them as long as you keep them whole.

I made my own star anise tincture with the extras I have. Just fill a jar and top with an alcohol (I use grain alcohol) and let sit for 4-6 weeks and decant the liquor. It's delicious to add to cocktails

i mean i use a teensy amount of aniseed in my red pasta sauce. i suppose you could sub star anise, but i've never tried it.

i have a root beer/birch beer/sarsaparilla recipe i've been fighting for years that i used star anise in, but i think i might sub in fennel or aniseed because it always ends up too licoricey no matter how little i put in. here's the latest incarnation, but note it is not good

1 tablespoon sarsaparilla root bark
1 tablespoon sassafras root bark
1 tablespoon birch bark
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1/2 teaspoon crushed ginger
4? sprigs chocolate mint
3? star anise pods
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup molasses

Combine everything but sugar and molasses.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 2 hours
Strain liquid through fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a large pot.
Add sugar and molasses, low heat and stir until mixture is integrated.
Put in syrup jar, refrigerate, add to carbonated water to make soda.

I'd leave out the star anise and mint entirely to begin with and slowly add them in at different quantities, because it's really easy to get mint or licorice soda. I still haven't figured this recipe out. nutmeg might be a good addition too.

Anise is popular with tea. Just make yourself a cup of tea, then drop 3 stars in it. You can also add cinnamon and/or honey if you like it sweet.

You could mull some apple cider in the crock pot with cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger, nutmeg, and a sliced orange. Great on its own or add some rum!

Edit: forgot to mention allspice and cardamom!

You could try Chinese takeaway style roast pork in BBQ sauce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb61bf4NQZ4

Holy crap! I did not know star anise came in pints! How much did that set you back?

My usual source is $8.29 an ounce, I can't imagine a pint!

https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/star-anise-whole/c-24/p-1478/pd-s

4 oz bag for $16.79, so I guess a pint would be around $67.16?

Good news, if they go stale, they're still valuable in crafting.

https://francoisetmoi.com/diy/diy-star-anise-wreath/

You could bake some bread with them. Rice. Bread pudding. The tea is a good idea. So many sweet and savory options! But this is a flavor I enjoy.

mulled wine?

Grind up one or two and add it to any bird brine for a nice warming flavor that balances with any bright notes

This Chicken recipes uses some anise. Not much but might help out. It is delish.

I'm following this thread because I also have about the same amount as you lol.