Anise Boiled Peanuts

Flavor: Anise — Meal: Easy, Cold

The true test for a chopstick virtuoso is to pick up a boiled peanut with a pair of smooth ivory chopsticks. Many Szechwanese restaurants on Taiwan give you ample opportunity to try your skill by putting tiny plates of boiled peanuts on your table the minute you sit down. Mrs. Chiang’s recipe for this traditional hors d’oeuvre uses soy sauce, star anise, and Szechwan peppercorns to produce fragrant, anise-flavored peanuts that are sl