Celebrate with these Delicious Chinese New Year Dishes Recipes

Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, cultural traditions, and delicious food. As one of the most important holidays in China, the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is celebrated with a variety of dishes that symbolize luck, prosperity, and happiness. Whether you're looking to prepare a traditional feast or add some new recipes to your repertoire, there are plenty of Chinese New Year dishes to choose from.

Traditional Chinese New Year Dishes are an essential part of the holiday celebrations. These dishes are steeped in symbolism and are believed to bring good luck and fortune. From dumplings to fish, each dish has a special meaning. For example, dumplings represent wealth and prosperity, while fish symbolizes abundance and surplus. It is common to serve whole fish during Chinese New Year as it represents completeness and togetherness.

Main Dishes and Sides are the heart of any Chinese New Year feast. From savoury dishes like braised pork belly to sweet and sour chicken, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you're looking to add seafood to your menu, consider making steamed fish or prawn stir-fry. Seafood is considered an auspicious food during Chinese New Year as it symbolizes abundance and good fortune. You can use fish like carp, which is a popular choice, or prawns, which represent happiness and liveliness.

Key Takeaways

• Traditional Chinese New Year Dishes are steeped in symbolism and are believed to bring good luck and fortune.
• Seafood is considered an auspicious food during Chinese New Year as it symbolizes abundance and good fortune.
• There are plenty of Chinese New Year dishes to choose from, including main dishes, sides, vegetarian options, sweet treats, and snacks.

Traditional Chinese New Year Dishes

Chinese New Year is a time for celebration, and food is an important part of the festivities. Traditional Chinese New Year dishes are believed to bring prosperity, good fortune, and luck for the coming year. Here are some of the most popular traditional Chinese New Year dishes that you can make at home.

Dumplings

Dumplings (Jiaozi) are one of the most popular dishes during Chinese New Year. They are believed to bring good fortune because their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots. Dumplings are usually filled with meat and vegetables, such as pork, cabbage, and chives. You can also add seafood, such as shrimp or scallops, to make them more flavourful.

Spring Rolls

Spring Rolls (Chun Juan) are another popular dish during Chinese New Year. They are believed to bring prosperity because their shape resembles gold bars. Spring Rolls are usually filled with vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms, and sometimes with meat. You can also add seafood, such as prawns or crab meat, to make them more delicious.

Nian Gao

Nian Gao, also known as Chinese New Year cake, is a sweet and sticky rice cake that is a must-have during Chinese New Year. It is believed to bring prosperity and good luck because its name sounds like "higher year" in Chinese. Nian Gao is usually made with glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water. You can also add red bean paste or dates to make it more flavourful.

Tang Yuan

Tang Yuan are sweet glutinous rice balls filled with sweet sesame paste, peanut butter, or red bean paste. They are usually served in a sweet soup made with ginger, rock sugar, and water. Tang Yuan is a symbol of family togetherness and unity because its name sounds like "reunion" in Chinese.

If you're looking to add more flavour to your traditional Chinese New Year dishes, consider adding seafood to your recipes. Shrimp, scallops, prawns, and crab meat are all great options to add to your dumplings or spring rolls. Not only will it make your dishes more delicious, but it will also bring good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.

Main Dishes and Sides

If you are looking for a delicious and traditional Chinese New Year dish, look no further. These main dishes and sides are perfect for celebrating the occasion and bringing good luck, abundance, and surplus to your life.

Chinese Steamed Fish

Chinese Steamed Fish is a classic dish that is often served during Chinese New Year. It is believed that fish symbolizes abundance and prosperity, making it a popular choice for the occasion. The dish is usually made with whole fish, such as sea bass or red snapper, and steamed with ginger, scallions, soy sauce, and rice wine. The result is a tender and flavourful fish that is perfect for sharing with family and friends.

If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can use prawns or scallops. They will add a delicious flavour to the dish and make it even more special.

Braised Pork Belly

Braised Pork Belly is another popular dish that is often served during Chinese New Year. The dish is made with pork belly that is braised in soy sauce, sugar, and spices until it is tender and flavourful. It is then served with steamed buns and pickled vegetables.

If you want to make the dish even more special, you can add some abalone or sea cucumber to it. They will add a unique flavour to the dish and make it even more delicious.

Lion’s Head Meatballs

Lion’s Head Meatballs are a traditional dish that is often served during Chinese New Year. The dish is made with large pork meatballs that are braised in a savoury broth with vegetables. The meatballs are called "lion's head" because they are large and round, resembling a lion's head.

If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can use prawns or squid. They will add a delicious flavour to the dish and make it even more special.

Soy Sauce Chicken

Soy Sauce Chicken is a simple yet delicious dish that is perfect for Chinese New Year. The dish is made with chicken that is marinated in soy sauce, sugar, and spices, and then braised until it is tender and flavourful. It is then served with steamed rice and vegetables.

If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can use fish fillets or prawns. They will add a delicious flavour to the dish and make it even more special.

These main dishes and sides are perfect for celebrating Chinese New Year and bringing good luck, abundance, and surplus to your life. Try them out and enjoy the delicious flavours of Chinese cuisine.

Vegetarian and Auspicious Foods

Chinese New Year is a time for celebration and togetherness, and food plays a central role in this celebration. Vegetarian dishes are a great option for those who want to enjoy the festivities while still adhering to their dietary preferences. Here are some vegetarian and auspicious foods that you can try during the Chinese New Year.

Buddha’s Delight

Buddha’s Delight, also known as Luo Han Zhai, is a popular vegetarian dish that is believed to bring good health and wealth. It is a stir-fry dish that consists of various vegetables, such as mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and tofu, that are cooked in a savoury sauce. You can serve it with rice or noodles for a complete meal.

If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can use shiitake mushrooms and oyster mushrooms to give it a flavourful taste.

Turnip Cake

Turnip Cake, also known as Lo Bak Go, is a savoury cake made from shredded turnip and rice flour. It is a popular dish during Chinese New Year as it is believed to bring good luck and wealth. Turnip Cake can be steamed or pan-fried and is often served as a snack or appetizer.

To make the dish more flavourful, you can add some dried shrimp or scallops to the mixture. This will give it a unique taste and texture.

Long Life Noodles

Long Life Noodles, also known as Chang Shou Mian, are a symbol of longevity and are often served during Chinese New Year. These noodles are longer than regular noodles and are meant to be eaten without cutting them.

Long Life Noodles can be cooked with various vegetables, such as carrots, mushrooms, and bok choy, to make a delicious and healthy dish. If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can use prawns or scallops to give it a seafood flavour.

These vegetarian and auspicious foods are a great way to celebrate Chinese New Year while still adhering to your dietary preferences. They are not only delicious but also believed to bring good health, wealth, and togetherness.

Sweet Treats and Desserts

Chinese New Year is a time for indulging in sweet treats and desserts. From pineapple tarts to sweet and sour pork, there are a variety of dishes to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are a few traditional Chinese New Year dessert ideas that you can try out this year.

Pineapple Tarts

Pineapple tarts are a popular Chinese New Year snack that are enjoyed by many. These delicious treats are made with a buttery pastry and filled with sweet and tangy pineapple jam. You can make your own pineapple jam or buy it pre-made from a store.

To make the pastry, you will need flour, butter, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla extract. Once the pastry is made, you can shape it into small balls and fill them with the pineapple jam. Bake the tarts in the oven until they are golden brown and crispy.

If you want to add some seafood to your pineapple tarts, you can try adding some shrimp or crab meat to the filling. This will give the tarts a unique flavour and texture that is sure to impress your guests.

Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and sour pork is a classic Chinese dish that is often served during Chinese New Year. This dish is made with tender pieces of pork that are coated in a sweet and tangy sauce.

To make sweet and sour pork, you will need pork loin, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and cornstarch. You can also add some pineapple chunks to the dish for an extra burst of sweetness.

To prepare the pork, cut it into small pieces and marinate it in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Once the pork is marinated, coat it in cornstarch and fry it until it is crispy and golden brown.

To make the sauce, mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and pineapple juice. Add the sauce to the pork and cook until the sauce thickens. Serve the sweet and sour pork with steamed rice and enjoy!

If you want to add some seafood to your sweet and sour pork, you can try adding some shrimp or scallops to the dish. This will give the dish a unique flavour and texture that is sure to impress your guests.

Chinese New Year is a time for indulging in sweet treats and desserts. Whether you are making pineapple tarts or sweet and sour pork, these dishes are sure to bring you good luck and fortune in the new year.

Snacks and Dim Sum Delights

If you're looking for some tasty appetizers to serve at your Chinese New Year celebration, look no further than these delicious snacks and dim sum delights.

Scallion Pancakes

Scallion pancakes are a popular Chinese dish that make a great appetizer or snack. These savoury pancakes are made with flour, water, and chopped scallions. They are then rolled out into thin circles and pan-fried until crispy.

To add some seafood to this recipe, you can try adding some chopped shrimp or crab meat to the pancake batter before frying. This will give the pancakes a delicious seafood flavour that is sure to impress your guests.

Wontons

Wontons are another popular Chinese appetizer that are perfect for Chinese New Year. These little dumplings are usually filled with pork or shrimp and are boiled or fried until cooked through.

For a seafood twist on this classic dish, try filling your wontons with a mixture of shrimp and crab meat. Serve them with a soy sauce-based dipping sauce for a delicious and satisfying appetizer.

Whether you're serving scallion pancakes or wontons, these Chinese New Year snacks and dim sum delights are sure to be a hit at your celebration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some traditional mains to serve for Chinese New Year celebrations?

Chinese New Year is a time for feasting and celebrating with loved ones. Some traditional mains to serve during this festive occasion include fish, chicken, pork, and beef. Seafood is also a popular choice, with prawns, scallops, and lobster being some of the most commonly used ingredients.

Could you suggest some easy-to-make dishes for a Chinese New Year feast?

If you're looking for easy-to-make dishes for a Chinese New Year feast, consider preparing dumplings, spring rolls, or fried rice. These dishes are simple to make and are sure to be a hit with your guests.

Which vegetarian recipes are popular during Chinese New Year?

Vegetarian recipes are also a great option for Chinese New Year celebrations. Some popular vegetarian dishes include Buddha's Delight, stir-fried vegetables, and vegetarian dumplings.

What desserts are typically enjoyed during Chinese New Year festivities?

Desserts are an important part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Some popular desserts include glutinous rice cakes (nian gao), sesame balls (jian dui), and rice dumplings (tang yuan). These sweet treats are believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

Can you recommend any Chinese New Year recipes that are suitable for children?

If you're looking for Chinese New Year recipes that are suitable for children, consider making spring rolls, fried rice, or sweet and sour chicken. These dishes are easy to make and are sure to be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

What are the symbolic foods of Chinese New Year and their meanings?

There are many symbolic foods that are eaten during Chinese New Year, each with its own special meaning. For example, fish represents abundance and prosperity, while dumplings represent wealth and good fortune. Oranges and tangerines are also popular, as their round shape symbolises fullness and completeness.