Star anise recipes. Star anise is shaped like an eight-pointed star and contains seeds with an aniseed flavour, which comes from the spice's essential oil, anethole.It is used widely in Chinese cooking and is one of the five spices in Chinese five-spice powder.ngredients. Star anise is shaped like an eight-pointed star and contains seeds with an aniseed flavour, which comes from the spice's essential oil, anethole.