There is always a reason to celebrate.
One proven way to celebrate that is practiced all over the world is through food!
Lunar New Year is this coming Wednesday, the 29th of this year. It is a long celebration for Chinese communities all over the world. As mentioned, most people would join any celebration especially if it allows for a feast!
Traditionally, Chinese families would gather in their parents’ or grandparents’ homes; prepare dishes that signify health, wealth, family unity, happiness, and prosperity; enjoy a meaningful feast, play games, and exchange ang pao (red envelopes). Usually, kids can make a fortune during this time as it is a practice for all the elders in the family to give a red envelope to the younger ones.
My exposure to Chinese New Year celebrations includes watching dragon dance parades, going to temples, and enjoying a hearty Chinese cuisine feast!
As mentioned, who doesn’t love a good feast, ei?
Here are some of the dishes I usually enjoy during this time of the year, all thanks to my Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) friends. (For a few years though, I enjoyed a vegetarian if not full-vegan Chinese New Year feast. But since I’ve circled back to when I was in transition, this list includes seafood and meat).
1. DUMPLINGS (wealth and family unity)
Fried Vegan Mushroom Dumplings
Steamed Fish Dumplings with Sambal Oelek
Not does this only signify ‘wealth’, but personally, I consider this the epitome and center of most Chinese New Year celebrations. Why? Because making dumplings is a serious family affair for most Chinese families. From the creation of the dough, the making of the filling, and the final step of uniting all ingredients together, every member has a part to play. There is just no better way to signify and highlight family unity.
Dumplings are made of minced meat and vegetables, spices, and seasonings. A homemade dumpling wrapper is still the best especially if you want to play around with the folds and shapes, however, I also know that not everyone is fond of making the wrapper from scratch. So, store-bought round dumpling wrappers are your ‘go-to’ for simple shapes and folds.
Usually steamed or braised. In Chinese, yu (fish) sounds like ‘surplus’. This is usually the last dish to be enjoyed, and depending on practice and tradition, it is also the first dish to be enjoyed on the first Lunar Day. Although there are suggested fish types to be prepared for this special occasion like mud carp, crucian carp, and catfish, personally, I believe it is the intention and the significance that counts. Hence, use whatever fish you prefer. I usually go for lapu-lapu (grouper), pompano, or tilapia as these are readily available and easy to procure. For quite some time, during my transition years, I’ve been alternating between these dishes: sweet and sour, sarciado, braised, and steamed with lots of ginger.
3. NOODLES (happiness and longevity)
Longevity noodles differ from your usual store-bought Asian dried noodles wherein it is usually just one long strand for a single serving. As a #noodlic, I’ve yet to try my hand at making noodles from scratch. So I was really happy when I had the chance to buy a pack of dried longevity noodles, albeit a one-time instance as I could no longer find the same brand from the same supermarket and I’m still checking out other supermarkets to date, to no avail.
Just like the significance of fish, it is also the significance of any type of noodles: ‘long life’. Again, by all means, use whatever noodles you have in your pantry or get the readily available dried ones from the grocers.
4. SPRING ROLLS (wealth and new beginnings)
Lumpia (thin dough) wrappers, usually filled with fresh vegetables or ingredients readily available in springtime signify ‘new beginnings’ or ‘a fresh start’. These cylindrical-shaped rolls are then fried to golden brown resembling gold bars symbolizing ‘wealth’. Nowadays, fillings are not only limited to savoury ones but sweet ones too!
5. GLUTINOUS RICE CAKE (higher income and position; family unity, prosperity)
Nian Gao, a homophone to a Chinese phrase meaning ‘to progress to a higher level every year’, is made with glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water, usually wrapped in lotus leaves, steamed, and/or fried. Other ingredients like chestnuts and dates are also added, depending on the region the recipe came from.
Its round shape symbolizes ‘unity and completeness’, whilst its sticky texture signifies ‘family unity’ and ‘sticking together’. And with its golden brown color also symbolizing ‘prosperity’, eating this also signifies having prosperity ‘stick’ to you and your family year-round.
6. SHRIMP (happiness)
Shrimp is revered as a symbol of ‘happiness’. The Cantonese word for shrimp is ha which sounds like laughter, signifying happiness as the days go by.
7. VEGGIES (health, wealth, and more)
With all the golden brown dishes served, thanks to all the frying involved, a Chinese New Year food spread is not complete without vegetables. Vegetables like spinach, lettuce, Chinese broccoli, bok choy, and other leafy greens signify 'renewal', 'energy', 'progress', ‘good fortune’, and ‘prosperity’.
8. CITRUS FRUIT (fullness and wealth)
The vibrant colors and round shapes of several citrus fruit like oranges, tangerines, and pomelos represent ‘vitality’ and ‘wholeness’. Their Chinese names also suggest ‘good luck’ or ‘fortune’, ‘success’, and ‘abundance’ respectively.
9. LION’S HEAD MEATBALLS (family unity and strength)
Lion's Head Meatless Balls aka Vegan Mushroom Balls
Resembling a lion’s head, pork meatballs symbolize ‘family unity’ and ‘strength'. Usually served with vegetables in a sweet and sticky sauce.
As taught to me by Hong: Gong Xi Fa Cai, hong bao na lai!
What shall I be feasting on this 28th evening to welcome Chinese New Year 2025, ei? And as always, I can’t wait to drool over your CNY 2025 food spread on IG @amreyskitchen #cnyfood #everydayisafeast. Let’s keep spreading Love with Amrey’s Kitchen’s recipes and creations.
Happy feasting, lovelies! #mettalove
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