Lunar New Year is a time to clean and decorate your home, gather with family, honor ancestors, and share a feast with foods that symbolize prosperity in the New Year. Join in and cook up these lucky Lunar New Year recipes for your own celebration.
Chinese New Year Foods
Most of the dishes served during Chinese New Year are symbolic of something positive and hopeful. Here are some of the most popular types of foods served during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Jiaozi (Dumplings)
Symbolizing wealth and prosperity. In some areas of China, coins are placed in the center of jiaozi. Whoever bites into one of these dumplings will have an exceptionally lucky year.
Chinese dumpling recipes to try:
Pork
Symbolizing strength, wealth, and blessings.
Fish
Fish symbolizes happiness and prosperity — especially when served whole.
Chicken
Symbolizing family and unity.
More Good Luck Dishes for Chinese New Year
Good luck dishes are also chosen based on homonyms — words that either are spelled the same or sound the same as other words. Fish (yu) is served because it sounds similar to the Chinese word for plenty; whole fish represents abundance. Turnips are cooked because their name (cai tou) also means "good luck."
Niangao — a steamed sweet cake made of glutinous rice — is a popular dessert for the new year, as it is a homonym for "higher year." Try this baked version topped with sesame seeds, another good luck food: