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 Chinese New Year Recipes. The Lunar New Year, known in China as chūnjié (春节) or Spring Festival, is a festive time for many all over the world. The holiday features fireworks, new clothes, money-filled red envelopes (or hóngbāo – 红包) for kids, lots of red, and most importantly, tons of good food. Chinese New Year food traditions 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. Related: 100 Chinese New Year Wishes to Honor the Lunar New Year In addition to a traditional Chinese rice pudding recipe below, you'll also find recipes for dim sum and more classics like Dan Dan 27. Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake) This sticky, sweet cake is a must If you’re hosting a New Year’s party. Symbolizing progress, advancement, and growth, it’s a traditional (and tasty!) way to get your year off to a great start. The classic recipe is simple – sugar, water, and rice flours. 21 Recipes to Celebrate Chinese New Year. Planning a feast for Chinese New Year? From festive fish and dumplings to sticky rice pudding and peanut cookies, this symbolic selection of delicious recipes and traditional foods will help you plan the menu. The act of sharing and enjoying these delectable pockets during the New Year celebrations becomes a communal tradition that extends beyond culinary delight, fostering a sense of togetherness and the belief in the prosperous journey that lies ahead. 20. Niangao (Chinese New Year Cake) BETTER THAN TAKEOUT – Chicken Wonton Soup Recipe. Wonton, homonymous with “chaos”, meaning the chaos before the new beginning, and eating wonton symbolizes the new beginning. Also called Spring Festival in most of mainland China, Lunar New Year begins on the night of the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, which is a bit shorter than the 365-day solar year. The 16-day festival season is celebrated with lots of traditional Chinese New Year foods that are prepared, served and eaten in symbolic ways. Thought to have been created in China about a century ago, shrimp toast combines traditional Chinese shrimp paste with Western white bread to create one of the earliest fusion foods. Try the Dumplings Caitriana Nicholson/Flickr. 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 Sticky rice balls—or tang yuan—are a traditional Chinese new year food that can be made savory or sweet. Go the savory route with ground pork or Chinese greens, or make sweet rice balls by Chinese salt and pepper shrimp. Chinese Salt and Pepper Shrimp are crispy, spicy, and aromatic.Pan-fried shrimp are tossed in a sauté of spicy chili peppers, garlic, and herbs in this easy, restaurant-style shrimp recipe that comes together in just 30 minutes! The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China: it lasts up to two weeks and is the only time of the year when China shuts down. Unlike Western countries, the Chinese New Year generally falls between January 21st and February 20th in the Gregorian calendar, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Korean skewers, known as Sanjeok, pair colorful vegetables and thinly sliced, marinated meat for a visually striking and satisfying dish. Often served during celebratory occasions, these skewers are lightly coated in flour, dipped in an egg wash, and pan-fried to perfection. I’m thrilled to share not only my cherished Chinese New Year recipes but also a diverse collection from amazing food bloggers worldwide. 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 The Chinese New Year, known to locals as the Lunar New Year, is a time for lively festivities and delectable cuisine. Each ingredient of every dish is loaded with meaning, symbolizing omens and blessings of long life, good fortune, and so much more. There are also the 7 lucky foods for chinese new year.Oranges, tangerines, kumquats, and pomelos are given as gifts. They represent happiness, wealth, and luck. On the other hand, foods like bitter melon and broken noodles are avoided. 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. Celebrate Chinese New Year with symbolic foods that represent luck, prosperity, and happiness. Mark the occasion with traditional dishes like fish, dumplings, whole chicken, spring rolls, Chinese New Year cake, and sweet rice balls.
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