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Anijsmelk (aniseed milk)
Anijsmelk: hot sweet milk scented with aniseed, the cup the Dutch hold in mittens at the side of a frozen canal
When the canals of Friesland freeze hard and the whole of the Netherlands goes out on skates, koek-en-zopie stalls appear on the ice selling erwtensoep, warm sausage and steaming cups of anijsmelk. At home it is a winter bedtime drink for children and grandparents alike, made either by crushing aniseed into simmering milk or, as many Dutch families do, by stirring in anijsblokjes, sugar cubes flavoured with aniseed. It tastes softly sweet and liquorice-like without being sharp, and it is smooth and warming, with a faint warmth on the tongue. The common mistake is boiling the milk: it rises over the pan, scorches on the base and forms a thick skin. Heat it slowly and stop when tiny bubbles appear around the edge. It is ready when the milk smells clearly of anise after steeping and has turned faintly ivory. Anise seeds are sold in spice shops; in a pinch use one star anise, though it tastes stronger and less sweet. There is no caffeine, which is why Dutch parents serve it at bedtime. Chef's tip: crush the seeds just before using, the oils fade quickly once ground.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 tsp anise seedsor 4 aniseed sugar cubes (anijsblokjes), then skip the sugar
- 2 tbsp sugaror to taste
- 1 tsp cornflour (optional)mixed with 1 tbsp cold milk, for a slightly thicker cup
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What you'll need
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Crush the 1 tsp anise seeds seeds lightly in a mortar until they crack and smell sweet.
1 minStep 2: Put 2 cups whole milk, the anise and 2 tbsp sugar in a saucepan and heat over medium-low, stirring now and then, until tiny bubbles appear round the edge and steam rises, about 5 minutes. Do not let it boil.
5 minStep 3: Take off the heat, cover and steep for 3 minutes so the anise flavour develops.
3 minStep 4: For a thicker cup, stir in the 1 tsp cornflour mixture and warm for 1 minute more, stirring, until it lightly coats a spoon. Strain into mugs and serve hot.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 175 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does anijsmelk (aniseed milk) take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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