Chinese New Year is a time for celebration, family gatherings, and of course, delicious food! Whether you're hosting a feast or just looking to enjoy some traditional dishes at home, we've got you covered with some of the top Chinese New Year recipes to try. From dumplings to longevity noodles, these dishes not only taste amazing but are also steeped in cultural significance.
1. Dumplings (Jiaozi)
Dumplings are a must-have during Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots, and eating them is believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead. You can fill them with pork, beef, chicken, or vegetables for a variety of flavors. Try your hand at making these delicious treats with your family!
2. Longevity Noodles
Long noodles represent a long life, making them a popular dish during Chinese New Year. The longer the noodles, the better the luck! Whether you stir-fry them with vegetables or serve them in a savory broth, longevity noodles are a simple yet symbolic dish to prepare.
3. Sweet Rice Cake (Nian Gao)
This sticky rice cake is a Chinese New Year classic. It's made with glutinous rice flour and sugar, giving it a sweet, chewy texture. Nian Gao symbolizes progress and growth, and is said to help bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year.
4. Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are filled with vegetables and sometimes meat, then wrapped in a thin dough and fried to perfection. Their golden color symbolizes wealth and good fortune, making them a popular dish to share with friends and family during the New Year.
5. Tangerines and Oranges
While not exactly a recipe, offering tangerines and oranges is a tradition during Chinese New Year, as the word for “orange” (cheng) sounds like the word for “wealth,” and tangerines are associated with good luck. Add these fruits to your table for a burst of color and symbolism!
6. Fish (Yu)
Fish is a symbol of abundance and surplus, and it’s considered essential during Chinese New Year feasts. The word for fish (yu) sounds like the word for “surplus” in Chinese, so having fish on your table represents a wish for prosperity in the new year.
Chinese New Year Food Popularity
Chinese New Year foods are enjoyed worldwide, but some dishes stand out more than others. Here's a quick look at the popularity of Chinese New Year foods based on recent surveys:
Celebrate with the Life Planner App
After you’ve prepared your delicious Chinese New Year feast, it’s time to focus on your goals for the year ahead! The Life Planner app helps you set and track personal goals, build healthy habits, and stay organized. From tracking your habits to planning your daily tasks, Life Planner is the perfect tool to help you make the most of the upcoming year.
Download Life Planner today from the Google Play store or App Store, and start organizing your life with the help of tools like Habit Tracker, Mood Tracker, Todo List, and Journal.