The word for fish, “鱼” (yú), sounds like “surplus,” making it a key ingredient in any New Year’s meal. Whether you’re looking to make a simple steamed fish dish or a flavorful stir-fry, these 50+ Chinese New Year fish recipes offer a wide variety of delicious options to help you celebrate this special occasion with family and Steam for 9 minutes and turn off the heat. Use a butter knife to peek at the meat and confirm the fish is cooked through. The meat should be opaque down to the bone, but the bone should be slightly translucent and not fully cooked (remember, you will not be eating the bone. Wednesday, January 29th, will kick off the start of the Year of the Snake with celebrations of fireworks, family, and feasts all across the world. Whole steamed fish is a traditional famous dish on the Chinese Lunar New Year and celebrations dinner menu. It's also widely known as ' Chinese New Year Fish '. Having a whole fish at the family dinner means wealth and prosperity for the coming whole year. The whole fish has to have a head and tail, and it symbolizes good fortune. the significance of fish: In Mandarin, the Chinese word for fish, 魚 (yú) sounds like the word for surplus (餘) and there’s a Chinese New Year greeting or proverb, 年年有餘 (nián nián yǒuyú), that you say to wish someone abundance and surplus year after year – food, health, wealth, love, etc. is implied. You traditionally serve whole steamed or baked fish at the end of the Chinese New Year Feast. It symbolises an increase in prosperity. In Chinese dialect fish 鱼 Yú, sounds like the word for surplus. It is believed in China if you can save something at the end of the old year, you will make more in the next. This is a colorful Chinese New Year sticky rice pudding that's layered with eight different kinds of ingredients. In this version, pineapple, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, dates, mandarin oranges, red bean paste, and walnuts make up the 8 treasures but different families will use different grains, nuts, and dried fruits. Food served during the Chinese Lunar New Year is full of significance, and one of the most important dishes is a whole fish. It symbolizes plentiful prosperity for this year and the next. It's also one of the most simple dishes to make. Here, it's steamed, then topped with fermented black beans, garlic, chili flakes, cilantro and ginger for plenty of fresh, deep flavor. A Chinese New Year is not a New Year without fish, and you MUST have two of them: one for New Year’s Eve and one for Chinese New Year’s Day.That’s why, on the eve of Chinese New Year, we’re posting this Chinese Braised Fish (red cooked fish), or hong shao yu recipe for all of you! Lunar New Year is on the horizon, and you note that it is the biggest feast, the most family-filled, the loudest, the most festive, and the most delicious. This year, it occurs on January 29 and kicks off the Year of the Snake. Tell us a bit about how you prepare for the Lunar New Year in the weeks and days leading up to it. The Year of the Snake 🐍 (蛇年) is fast approaching!In 2025, the Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29, and the celebration lasts at least 15 days.To help you prepare for celebratory meals, I’ve curated 30 popular recipes for this most important occasion. You’ll find not only authentic traditional Chinese New Year recipes but also modified, popular Chinese dishes across cultures. So, join me in celebrating the spirit of Chinese New Year with these culinary gems. Chinese New Year recipes Main course recipe ideas for the Lunar New Year Braised pig’s feet Wednesday, January 29th, will kick off the start of the Year of the Snake with celebrations of fireworks, family, and feasts all across the world. Food served during the Chinese Lunar New Year is full of significance, and one of the most important dishes is a whole fish. It symbolizes plentiful prosperity for this year and the next. It's also one of the most simple dishes to make. Here, it's steamed, then topped with fermented black beans, garlic, chili flakes, cilantro and ginger for plenty of fresh, deep flavor. How to select fish for Chinese steamed fish. The best fish for Chinese steamed fish is a (recently) live fish. The next best is a fresh whole fish. You can always use a fish filet, but I highly recommend trying this one with a whole fish if you can. If using a whole fish, you can usually find it at a Chinatown market or a large Chinese grocery In this article, we will explore the significance of fish in Chinese culture, the symbolic meaning of fish for wealth and prosperity, the tradition of serving whole fish during Chinese New Year, the superstitions and beliefs associated with eating fish, and the best fish recipes for your Chinese New Year feast. This recipe uses ingredients which are typically served during Chinese New Year in Malaysia and Singapore. There are many different types of combinations of ingredients that can be used. Tossing yee sang is great way to celebrate the festive season with family, friends and colleagues as the dish itself symbolizes abundance and prosperity. Why Make This. Better for your wallet: Koi fish jelly is often seen during Chinese New Year in Singapore and Hong Kong.Like most Chinese desserts during CNY, the prices can be rather high. 5 medium-sized fish jellies cost S$100 from Robinsons, a mid-tier department store in Singapore, or $49.20 if you buy 1 piece from Regent Hotel (a 5-star hotel). In Chinese, the word for fish (鱼/yú) sounds like the Chinese word for surplus, meaning that if you eat fish for the New Year you may be blessed with a surplus in the coming year. Besides being our family’s super-secret good-luck recipe, this fish dish also requires very few ingredients, is very easy to make, looks impressive, and packs a Chinese New Year Fish. In Chinese cuisine, fish is a must-have for Chinese New Year—it’s considered auspicious! The word for fish, “yu” (鱼), symbolizes abundance, good fortune, and prosperity, making it an essential part of the celebration. No Chinese New Year meal feels complete without fish as one of the main dishes.
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