2019's Chinese New Year begins on Friday 16 February, marking the commencement of the Year of the Pig. People born in these years are considered to be the most loyal friends around, so this is a great time to celebrate their companionship with a traditional meal. We’ll let you in on a secret too – no Chinese recipe is complete without the distinctive taste of five spice sweeping your senses to Asia, and if you’ve ever wondered how to get that authentic, layered flavour, our Chinese Five Spice does most of the hard work for you.

The strong notes of star anise and fennel seed are perfectly supported by warming cinnamon and cloves, allowing you to recreate your favourite takeaway dishes in a flash with the simple addition of a few extra ingredients. Invite your friends round to indulge together in this tasty Chinese New Year feast.

Five spice beef and noodles

You don’t need much prep time to whip up this tasty Chinese New Year recipe. Stir frying steak is far quicker than cooking chicken, as beef is always best on the rare side – you don’t want to overcook a beautiful cut of this meat. Beef also has a much stronger natural flavour, so you can let its wonderful rich taste shine through by just adding a simple sauce made from aromatic Chinese Five Spice, soy sauce, honey and beef stock, as well as a good swig of nutty sesame oil.

Grilled sweet and sour pork tenderloin

Sweet and sour is one of the best combinations around and is a major part of Chinese cuisine: yin is sour, while yang is sweet. This pork tenderloin recipe is packed with flavour from Chinese Five Spice seasoning, as well as a hearty pinch of chilli flakes to pack some fiery heat. Grilling the pork tenderloin gives it a wonderfully crispy coating, which sits perfectly on a soft bed of refreshing red peppers and cabbage.

Pan-fried scallops with tamarind

Did you know that scallops are thought to symbolise new opportunities in Chinese culture? Impress your guests and pass on this message of goodwill by cooking up these incredibly moreish scallops. They’re super quick and easy to make, and you only need a few ingredients. Chinese Five Spice does all the hard work for you in this gloriously sticky marinade, partnered with sweet-yet-sour tamarind paste.

Asian chicken dippers and ketchup

Everyone loves fried chicken – and yes, you can make it suitable for a Chinese New Year banquet! When making the crunchy batter mix, just add garlic granules, Chinese Five Spice and salt to a bowl of flour to give it a tangy twist. You just can’t have chicken dippers without ketchup, of course, but your guests will be twice as impressed if you make your own. Spruce up a basic tomato sauce by adding fiery chili, zingy lime and garlic to the mix, and keep any leftovers in the fridge after.