Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake) Nian gao is perhaps the most popular and well-loved dessert associated with Chinese New Year. I can never say no to this sweet and sticky rice cake! Legend says that families would offer the cake to the Chinese Kitchen God in the hope that he’ll put in a good word for them when he goes back to heaven. Celebrate Lunar New Year with traditional and modern Chinese desserts, from almond cookies that promote good fortune to candied fruit that re-creates a popular street food. Anyone can use a little Rice dumplings play their most important role in Chinese Lantern Festival, which is the last day of the Chinese New Year period. Therefore, they are one of the top Chinese New Year desserts. These sweet rice balls are often infused with black sesame seeds or mashed peanuts. Eating this auspicious dessert signifies unity within the family. 3. The auspicious symbolism of these traditional Chinese New Year foods is based on their pronunciations or appearance. Not only do the dishes themselves matter, but also the preparation, and ways of serving and eating mean a lot. The most common Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao. We've rounded up 12 The Chinese New Year is here, and families all over the world are celebrating with a big meal together. While many parts of China have their twist on the traditional foods eaten for this celebration, there is one thing you will find in common: the deliciousness. Get the full recipe from Red House Spice. The Lantern Festival concludes the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations, with a delicious dessert known as Tang Yuan (Chinese glutinous rice balls) served as part of the family reunion supper on the last day. Sweet rice balls snuggled in a warm embrace of syrup symbolize family togetherness, while Nian gao, the year cake, reaches new heights of accomplishment. Oranges, tangerines, and pomelos, spheres of sunlight, bring luck and plenty, with their names evoking fortunate tones. Usually eaten on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, tang yuan (湯圓) is a sweet treat that symbolizes familial unity and togetherness. set out to cook a whole week's worth of Chinese New The lucky desserts for the lunar new year include Nian Gao, Tang Yuan, Peanut Brittle, Sachima, etc. 1. Nian Gao (Chinese Rice Cake) Chinese rice cake or Chinese New Year's cake is a Chinese homonym for "year higher" which cherishes the people's wishes for more prosperity in life and success in their career year by year. Eight treasure rice pudding is a unique Chinese dessert and a must-have in Lunar New Year. 17 Traditional Chinese New Year Desserts. Go to the kitchen, read my recipes, and make your new favorite holiday desserts. Chinese neighbors might have introduced them to you a long time ago every Lunar New Year. Cake Recipes. Sweet Rice Cakes (Nian Gao) Green is a color associated with wealth and currency, so leafy greens like lettuce, spinach and bok choy are often served as a Chinese New Year food. During Chinese New Year, these foods are often included in stir fry, soups, spring rolls and salads. The hope is some of that promised prosperity will manifest in your new year. 6. Dumplings This EASY Chinese New Year Cake Recipe, or Baked Nian Gao, is sweet, sticky, and gooey with that mochi-like consistency when piping hot.(It's also delicious pan-fried.) Traditionally, Nian Gao is steamed but that takes forever, and you have to add the right amount of water for the New Year Cake to come out Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year according to the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. In 2025, the celebrations begin on Wednesday, January 29th. Many of the dishes enjoyed during this time are deeply symbolic, representing good luck, happiness, prosperity, and more. Let’s explore some of these foods. Find Chinese New Year Sweet Food stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. The word nian literally means higher/taller year-on-year, so eating these treats is meant to bring growth in general: height for children, wealth for business, health and knowledge, etc. Served at the Lantern Festival at the end of the Chinese New Year, these sweet treats are considered the perfect way to say goodbye to the old year and welcome Try these auspicious Chinese New Year food and snacks 1. Chinese New Year cakes and puddings Lung King Heen’s Chinese New Year cakes. The most traditional Chinese New Year cakes are the New Year cake and turnip cake. Sweet and indulgent, the New Year cake – also known as neen gou (年糕) – is a common treat made with glutinous rice flour With a history of more than 1,800 years, dumplings are the most well-known Chinese dish in China and other countries in the world. According to ancient legend, the more dumplings you eat during the New Year celebrations, the more money you can make in the upcoming Year. Nian Gao Recipe Instructions. Prepare two 8-inch round baking pans by brushing the insides with vegetable oil.. Add 2 cups of water and the ginger to a medium-sized pot, bring it a boil, then let it simmer for 10 minutes over low to medium heat with the lid covered. These sweet rice balls are a common Chinese New Year food for good reason: The round shape signifies unity. These gooey balls also represent harmony and family togetherness because their name ( tang yuan ) sounds like the word “reunion” in Chinese ( tuan yuan ). Pin Spring Rolls. Crispy golden rolls filled with savory vegetables and meats symbolize wealth in Chinese culture. Perfect for dipping in sweet chili sauce for an extra layer of flavor.
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