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The most common Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao. We've rounded up 7 essential Chinese, or Lunar, New Year dishes, and included the symbolism behind them all. 1. Fish — an Increase in Prosperity. In Chinese, "fish" (鱼 Yú /yoo/) sounds like 'surplus'. Fish is a traditional Chinese New Year dish on ...
- Dumplings. Resembling coin purses, dumplings are said to bring wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. Traditionally filled with a mixture of meat, tofu, egg, and/or vegetables, dumplings are a staple of Chinese cuisine and a must-have at every Lunar New Year table.
- Spring rolls. The crisp, golden shell of the fried egg roll symbolizes gold, and is meant to bring wealth and prosperity to those who eat them. Spring rolls are so popular on Lunar New Year that their name actually comes from one of the holiday’s titles — The Spring Festival.
- Tang Yuan. The shape and pronunciation of this traditional Chinese dessert symbolize unity, both with your romantic partner, and with your family. There is even a lucky saying that is traditionally expressed when eating this treat: “Tuántuán yuányuán,” which means, “Happy family reunion!”
- Bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots are a traditional Chinese dish and are commonly enjoyed on the holiday. They symbolize well wishes and wealth. Bamboo shoots can be cooked in a variety of ways and are often prepared and served as a vegetable component in many dishes.
- Dumplings and Potstickers: Wealth. The first foods we want to cover are dumplings and potstickers because they are beloved dishes that anyone from anywhere will enjoy.
- Spring Rolls / Egg Rolls: Wealth. Another iconic Chinese New Year food with the same lucky meaning is the spring roll — a.k.a. egg roll (also known to our mouths as YUM).
- Noodles: Longevity. Noodles aren’t only a staple of Chinese cuisine, they also have the symbolism of long life. This has secured them a key spot on a traditional Chinese New Year food list.
- Mandarins and Tangerines: Luck. It is super common to see mandarin oranges, tangerines, and pomelos everywhere during Chinese New Year because they are lucky on all accounts.
- Lesley Kennedy
- Noodles: To Live Long and Prosper. Changshou Mian, known as "longevity noodles," symbolizes the wish for a long and healthy life. Noodles have been traced back more than 4,000 years in Chinese diets, but the tradition of consuming these long, uncut strands, sometimes over a foot in length, is thought to have originated during the Han Dynasty.
- Citrus Fruits: For Luck and Prosperity. In Lunar New Year traditions, revelers believe tangerines, oranges and pomelos bring good fortune. Their Mandarin names echo words with symbolic meanings: "jú" for oranges suggests "good luck" or "fortune," "chéng" for tangerine is akin to "success," and "youzi" for pomelos sounds similar to "have" or "abundance."
- Sweet Rice Balls for Unity. Yuanxiao or tangyuan, served in syrup, are sweet glutinous rice balls that hold a special significance during the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
- Golden Spring Rolls for Prosperity. Spring rolls are another popular dish during Lunar New Year celebrations; their golden color and cylindrical shape are reminiscent of gold bars and, thus, wealth.
- Rhonda Parkinson
- Spring Rolls and Egg Rolls. Spring rolls and egg rolls symbolize wealth because their shape is similar to gold bars. These spring rolls are filled with shredded pork and shrimp, as well as black mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, and garlic chives, but vegetable-only rolls are also available.
- Jiaozi (Dumplings) These round dumplings signify family reunion as most families spend New Year's Eve together preparing them before eating them at midnight.
- Lettuce Wraps. The Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like "rising fortune," so it's common to serve lettuce wraps filled with other lucky ingredients. Shredded chicken, green onion, red pepper, water chestnuts, celery, garlic, and ginger are tossed in a sauce of oyster sauce, soy sauce, dry sherry, and sugar.
- Lion's Head Meatballs. Lion's head meatballs is a visually appealing dish from Shanghai consisting of oversized meatballs with bok choy "manes." The lion represents power and strength in Chinese culture, while the oversized meatballs symbolize family togetherness.
Jan 4, 2023 · Yú, steamed fish. Steamed fish is a simple meal that retains the complex, natural flavors of the fish while adding aromatic notes from peppercorns, ginger, and scallions, along with a soy sauce ...
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Jan 31, 2022 · According to legend, the longer the noodles, the longer one's life may be, as long as the strands are unbroken during cooking. The noodles may be prepared and served in broth or fried. 4. Dumplings. Dumplings are a staple of Chinese food culture and are an iconic New Year's food that represents wealth.
