Name: Star Anise Brine
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup kosher salt; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 2 pods star anise; 4 bay leaves

Back in 2012, Sam Sifton spent some time with Jesse Griffiths, a hunter, and the author of who wrote “Afield: A Chef’s Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish.” Mr. Griffiths brined the chops he hunted and gathered chops in an anise-flavored brine. “The result,” Sifton wrote at the time, “is like overproof American whiskey touched by a splash of water, its flavor enhanced rather than diluted by the process.” But home cooks should take note that this same brine is not just for feral boar. Use it on the very chops you’d buy at the supermarket. Simply make up the brine the night before (or even the morning of), and soak your chops. Try it in our recipe for <a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014390-smothered-pork-chops">smothered pork chops,</a> or in your own recipe for chops, but do try it.

Star Anise Brine

salt

brown sugar

star anise

bay leaves

In a large pot set over high heat, combine 1 gallon of water and the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Heat until the sugar and salt are dissolved, then remove from stove.

Let cool completely and refrigerate until needed.

Star Anise Brine

Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 1

Cost: $7.07 /serving

Author : Sam Sifton

Ingredients

Instructions

Top similar recipes

Star Anise-Beef Soup

Pineapple with star anise

Blueberry, pear & star anise jam

Star anise duck with orange tagliat...

Soy, orange and star anise glazed d...

Braised pork with star anise and gi...

Chinese Poached Chicken Breasts wit...

Glazed Tofu With Chile and Star Ani...

Chickpeas in Star Anise and Date Ma...

Cambodian Pork Spare Ribs with Star...

Coconut caramel chicken with star a...

Viet Beef Stew with Star Anise and ...

Braised Brisket With Plums, Star An...

Anise Cookies

Anise Cookies

Anise Cookies

Anise Biscotti

Anise Drops

Ground Anise