Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is Monday, February 8th. To celebrate the Year of the Monkey, I’ve rounded up my favorite eight Chinese New Year recipes (8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture). Many of the traditional dishes eaten are symbolic, from the name of the food to the color and/or shape, they represent good luck, good fortune, abundance and family togetherness in the new year. Let the feasting begin.
Sticky Rice Bowl, pictured above, sticky rice symbolizes family cohesion, you know, because it’s sticky.
Roasted Tofu in Lemon Sauce, cubes of roasted tofu look vaguely like cubes of gold, symbolizing wealth. Or if you prefer an orange sauce, Roasted Tofu in Orange-Ginger Sauce. Oranges also represent gold, wealth, and good fortune.
Steamed and savory Taro Root Cake, made from rice flour which symbolizes cohesiveness.
Stir-fried Lettuce for prosperity.
Mock Chicken, aka Chinese Vegetarian Chicken is made of yuba sheets rolled around a mushroom filling. A whole chicken roll represents prosperity and family togetherness.
Cantonese Style Vegetable Chow Mein, with the noodles baked in the oven until crispy. Noodles represent long life, the longer, the better and should never, ever be cut. It’s why you have teeth.
Chinese-style Vegan Fish, in Chinese, the word for fish sounds like surplus as in an increase in prosperity. It’s always served whole but the Gardein Golden Fishless Filet only come in pieces so I interpret that as I should eat the whole bag.
Tofu “Egg” Foo Yung, doesn’t officially represent anything other than my fondness for this classic Chinese-American dish. But since it is a round shape, I’m going to say it represents togetherness and unity. Wishing you all a Happy Chinese New Year!
Disclosure: This post contains an Amazon link, I get a few coins tossed my way if you click on the link and make a purchase of anything.
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I want everything —(except maybe the taro root and the fish :D) I especially want the yuba, (yuba is one of my favorite foods), the sticky rice, the egg foo yung and the noodles. I never cut my noodles though I’ve been tempted. But I’ll never do it now that I know what’s at stake. Happy New Year!
those little golden tofus look amazing!
Anyone who gets to eat these lucky Chinese New Year’s dishes would be very fortunate, indeed!
Happy new year! Were it not for the mess, I’d like a red envelope full of yuba!