The Chinese New Year (also called the Spring Festival) is the most important and celebrated occasion for the Chinese community. This year it falls on February 3, 2011. Among the regional customs and traditions expected during this event, food is one of the most anticipated.
As the Chinese have associated some delicacies with good luck and prosperity, here are some menu ideas you can have to celebrate Chinese New Year. Take a journey full of wealth and fortune in Chinese gastronomy style!
1. Creamy Rice Cake. Sticky Rice Cake or more commonly known locally as Tikoy is a popular dessert eaten during this festive season. Made from glutinous rice with sugar, it carries a lot of symbolic meaning. Its sweetness symbolizes a rich and sweet life for the New Year. It also denotes increasing abundance and family togetherness. The Filipinos have already adapted this culinary custom, and generally prefer it fried with eggs and served hot.
2. Noodle recipes. Noodles are among the staple foods of the Chinese. It means longevity and it is recommended to eat it whole, without cutting a thread. There are various noodle dishes that can be cooked such as lomi, canton, fried noodles, and others that can be covered with vegetables, meat, seafood, and flavorful spices.
3. Lettuce wraps. Any dish wrapped with lettuce leaves is ideal during the Chinese New Year party. In Cantonese, the word lettuce sounds like “growing fortune.” Lettuce wraps are best filled with other lucky foods like chicken and dried oysters mixed with vegetables and hot sauce.
4. Chinese dumplings. Dumplings are among the artistic gastronomic masterpieces of the Chinese people. Boiled or fried, they usually come in various forms, filled with meat and vegetables. The round dumplings signify family gatherings, while the crescent-shaped dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity as they resemble ancient Chinese money (silver ingots).
5. Steamed fish. The word for fish is “Yu”, which sounds like the words wish and abundance, so serving fish means wishing for abundance in the coming year. Fish served whole, with the head and tail attached, symbolizes a good beginning and end to the year ahead.
6. Sweet and sour pork. This dish is popular with Chinese families who want to have many grandchildren. In addition to being a lucky dish, this typical dish is easy to prepare. Made of fried pork, pineapple, and bell pepper topped with a sweet and sour sauce, it simply provides a delicious experience.
7. Peking Duck. Peking Duck is a traditional and authentic Chinese dish that represents fidelity. The red color characteristic of this significant favorite represents happiness. This roasted delicacy is definitely a must at a Chinese New Year banquet.
8. Grilled Lemon Chicken In Chinese culture, chicken symbolizes good marriage and happiness. If served whole, it emphasizes family togetherness. Simply dip the chicken pieces in a flavorful marinade and grill until nicely browned. This could be a perfect main dish to enjoy at a holiday celebration.
There you have it, 8 dishes that are sure to bring you good fortune and an appetizing Chinese New Year celebration. Kung Hei Fat Choi!
