This is the second jar sauce we’ve tried from Star Anise and again I was attracted to the unique flavor profile.
The sauce tasting promising fish from the jar but for best results I decided that following the guide on the jar would be best; basically cooking the sauce with a can of coconut milk – also adding tofu here. I then served with some cauliflower rice, garlic soy green beans, crushed peanuts, siracha and basil aioli.
Personally I wasn’t a huge fan of the sauce. I think the coconut milk added far too much richness that wasn’t balanced out enough by the sauce. It felt flabby on palate and needed more sharpness or more acidity. I much preferred the Garlic Lemongrass version instead.
Star Anise Foods Lemon Basil Vietnamese Simmer Sauce nutrition and ingredients
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Overall
Is Star Anise Foods Lemon Basil Vietnamese Simmer Sauce any good
For us this one is a pass. The sauce is interesting but following the instructions on the jar, it ends up a little limp and overly rich. Let us know if you have better success.
Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC – Utah’s biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows.
I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I started Shop Smart to catalogue my adventures in the grocery store and kitchen. Follow along on Instagram too!