Welcome the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar Calendar with a few traditional celebratory dishes!
Commonly known as “Chinese New Years,” this holiday is actually celebrated all over Eastern Asia. These countries include Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea. Similar to the Gregorian New Year (which is celebrated on the first of January in many places, including Europe and North America), there are many traditional festivities that go along with the holiday. These festivities change slightly depending on regions and cultures, but welcoming the Lunar New Year everywhere typically has a few things in common: firecrackers, red envelopes, and food.
Lots and lots of food.
Although the foods eaten during Lunar New Years also vary depending on where it is being celebrated, show some appreciation for a different holiday with these four recipes of the most common foods eaten during Lunar New Years!
1. Dumplings
One of my personal favorites, dumplings are arguably one of the most versatile foods ever. Really the only thing that stays consistent is the shape. There are endless combinations of of filling types, including pork, shrimp, and eggs with chives. When I was younger, dumplings made up the majority of my diet because they were so versatile. My mom even used to fill a few with brown sugar as dessert!
It’s considered lucky to eat dumplings on Lunar New Years because they resemble money pockets. This symbolizes prosperity and fortune during the upcoming year. You can cook them in a variety of ways, including pan-fried (which is also known as potstickers), boiled, and steamed.
Making dumplings is also traditionally done with the family, because it can be quite time consuming. So if you’re looking for an afternoon project that will involve the whole family (and result in a scrumptious dinner), here is a pretty basic recipe that you can easily adjust to your own tastes.
2. Spring Rolls
Like dumplings, spring rolls also symbolize prosperity. Their golden brown color and long shapes resemble gold bars, and it’s said that eating spring rolls can bring good fortune.
The wrapping, filling mixtures, and cooking methods also greatly vary on the culture from which they come from, but one thing remains the same: spring rolls make an incredibly tasty appetizer and side dish. They can be served alongside many different dishes and sauces, and it’s this versatility that makes spring rolls such a hit.
It might be more convenient to find frozen spring rolls from the grocery store, but I beg you to give this homemade recipe a shot. Like hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies, spring rolls are simply better when they’re made at home!
3. Deep-Fried Sesame Balls
Deep-fried sesame balls are to die for. My personal favorite dessert of all time, the golden deep-fried sesame balls are made from glutinous rice, rolled in sesame, and filled with either sweet red bean paste, or with black sesame paste.
Similar to other desserts eaten during the Lunar New Year, their round shape and golden color symbolizes luck. This is because the Chinese word for “round” is yuán, which sounds very similar to the word for “luck”, which is yùn.
You can find these amazing desserts at Asian supermarkets like T&T, or you can try this recipe!
4. Changshou Mian (Longetivity Noodles)
These noodles are similar to the Japanese ramen, but the noodles are wider and lack the distinctive curl of ramen. The literal translation of changshou mein being “long life noodles,” this dish stars noodles which symbolize having a long life!
Changshou mian has many different adaptations and styles, and it’s very simple to make. With lots of different toppings and soup bases, this traditional Chinese noodle soup is simple and absolutely delicious. Try out this recipe!