Chinese New Year is also a festival that people celebrate through numerous performances, family get- togethers and of course great food! Chinese Food Is very rich and can be prepare in many different ways and methods depending on the region. However, there are some foods which are particularly prepared and consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration with a view to setting sich Satz in den neuen year as fortunate, lucky, prosperous and sweet.
If you want to fully experience the festivities and flavors of the Chinese New Year, here are the top must-try CNY goodies you need on your table:
Tangyuan more commonly known as glutinous rice balls.
Tangyuan are also known as tangtuans or rice balls; undoubtedly, they have become an indispensable part of Chinese New Year sweet treats. These are doughy balls made from glutinous rice flour which is made to enclose sesame, peanut, red bean paste or any suitable sweet paste of the manufacturer’s choice then they are boiled in water.
Tangyuan is round and this shape itself expresses the meaning related with family reunion and completeness. Traditionally, tangyuan were made only during festivals because glutinous rice was a highly prized ingredient. Today, they are consumed at any one time of the year and at the same time again denominate the New Year.
This delicious and sticky dessert is the best way to round off a large reunion dinner together with family members. Health information quarter only, try to avoid scalding yourself on the hot filling that is still piping hot!
Lucky Niangao refers to sticky rice cake.
Some Niangao preparations include Chinese New Year cake which is traditionally consumed on New Year’s eve, or on the first day of Chinese New Year. It is usually made in a steamed or fried way and sometimes it can be mixed with some other fillings, such as taro, brown sugar or red bean paste.
Higher year after year can be translated in Chinese is “nian nian gao sheng”. Due to its resemblance in pronunciation to the phrase ‘niangao’, consuming it is believed to signify peoples’ desire for better future years. It also stays together as a single unit that is a family and has to stay them together.
The crispy and soft appearance and the golden brown color as well as the chewy texture of the pan fried niangao is preferred by many. Serve this lucky cake for breakfast or for mid meal during the festive season of the year.
The Spring Pancakes also known as the Cong You Bing.
Cong you bing literally means the oil cakes of the spring season or Spring Pancakes. These food are circular or rectangular shaped pan fried pancakes which are rich in oil in the preparation to signify prosperity in the new year.
Cong you bing is eaten at breakfast done with scrambled eggs on the first day of the New Year in northern China as well as Youtiao that is fried dough sticks. This golden color attained after frying in oil has a positive status attached to it. The sound for oil or even the letter “you” also means eating plenty of food and having a strong family all year.
Delight yourself with countless mounds of fluffy and warm spring pancakes predicting a smooth and oily year ahead!
Any fresh fruit with the label ‘Good Fortune Fruit’.
It is absolutely imperative to have different arrangements of two things, fresh fruits and good fortune fruits especially during Chinese New Year. Oranges, tangerines, pomelos, in fact, most citrus fruits are preferred. They are brilliant and joker in appearance and are associated with happy and prosperous times a go.
Besides, the sweet juicy tastes of apples also mask all the fried and heavy foods consumed especially during the New Year celebrations. Tasty fruits such as apples, grapes, pineapples and melons and other fruits that are nutritious are also_snd. It goes with saying that they can be just arranged in ornamental baskets; it also can be cut into different forms, keeping in mind the shape of the zodiac symbol for this year- a rooster.
In general, anything that is brand new for the season is perfect to be shared with the group – any fruit attracts the crowd and this particular treat is no exception. They will look great for the guest serving while being loaded with vitamins and wishing sweet and lucky new year.
Fa Gao (Prosperity Cakes)
The prosperity cakes known as fa gao are confiscated from doors of many Chinese homes and eaten only during the time of the Spring Festival. These small dome-shaped cakes are made from wheat flour, sugar, oil and some baking soda and powder. The traditionally fa gao batters were steamed in earthenware molds and now are mostly baked.
Different story the round tall form is associated with the insurance of big wages and plenty food for the whole family in the coming year. When sharing the prosperity cake it is fortunate to use a red string and cut to the middle horizontally. The message in the bottle contains fortunes and these are lighted to go up as high as the fa gao.
The sweet and fluffy fa gao bread gives a great backdrop for loFo funky sandwich fillings such as peanut butter, red bean paste or Nutella after a heavier New Year feast. Well come some happy luck into your taste buds!
Nian gao (Sticky Rice Cake)
It should not be mistaken for the similar in sounding Niangao, while Nian gao actually is Sticky rice cake. It is prepared from starchy substance known as glutinous rice flour alongside sugar or brown sugar normally used in the making of the preparation. The thick coat is established in a pan before steaming and cutting it.
Today in some areas of southern China nian gao is eaten as a lucky dessert during the celebration of the New Year. It has the sweetness of sugary confections and with its pronunciation ‘Nian’ a homophone for the chinese word for more prosperous year. It also ties people together like the family like we just suffered from that sticky feeling.
Since nian gao has a slight sweetness, it goes nicely with heavier desserts as well as New Year dishes. Experiential sweet little cubes for soaking in tea or for occasional indulgence post dinner.
Yusheng (Prosperity Salad)
Yusheng also known as lo hei literally means ‘moving towards a auspicious beginning,’ is a recently created tradition associated with Chinese New Year was started in singapore and malaysia and is now observed in many Chinese communities worldwide. Among the essential components one can mention the lnge thin slices of raw fish, sea vegetables, different kinds of sauces and spices, etc. The dishes of yusheng are mixed on the centre plate while reciting sounds of luck out loud.
High tossing action and mixing of the ingredients is symbolic of prosperity as well as vigor that is expected to be experienced in the coming New Year. Hearing Yusheng pronounce ‘raw fish salad’, one is reminded of the Chinese phrase that translates to ‘abundance of surplus’. The communal tossing also symbolize togetherness since people come together during the process.
For the prosperity salad platters with all your family and friends don’t forget your most asp asp wishes! The colours and flavours are rather bright so everyone will be cheerful at the new year.
Mandarin oranges
On Chinese New Year Mandarin oranges are said to represent prosperity and good luck. Because they are orange shaped, round, they mimic the gold bar or ingot and the sun – all symbols of the prosperous. Apart from their extremely tasteful and juicy tendencies, the fruits also have that perfect festive dosage of winter seasoning.
During the new year celebration you will see people putting them on the dining table as centerpieces, giving them out as gifts and necessarily eating them as snacks! To make a beautiful fruit platter present it in selected oranges with the tops intact during the check out processes everywhere. Peach can be peeled and eaten segment by segment while enjoying the Other Smons year festivities of the Spring Festival.
Seeds and nuts
Different types of dried seeds and nuts are taken in to provide the crunch as reception juices are taken during house visitation or some form of snack before the reunion dinner banquet. Peanuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and watermelon seeds are the carried-of-blessing nuts and seeds as they signify blessings for healthy sons and prosperity of family lineages. Their hard crunchy texture also represents long lasting prosperity just as long as these seeds can last.
Instead, this seeds and nuts for the new year could be lightly candied or coated with a sweet coating before roasting to make it prettier. They complement heavier meat and dishes at the banquet and provide nutritive values at the same time. Candied nuts and seeds arranged in a beautiful dish are perfect Chinese New Year dish to begin the celebration with a hearty and healthful meal.
