12 Lantern Festival Recipes: Celebrate at Home with a Lantern Festival Feast
Modified: 02/06/2025
Lantern Festival, a night of reunion, how can it be complete without delicious food?Here are 12 simple and delicious Lantern Festival recipes, including creative main dishes and symbolically meaningful foods, with clear and easy-to-follow instructions! You can host a lively Lantern Festival feast right at home. Come try them out!
1 of 12
Golden Shrimp
Golden Shrimp are golden brown and crispy on the outside, with tender shrimp inside. One bite gives you the satisfying crunch of the outer coating, followed by the juicy, springy texture of the shrimp.
Shrimp symbolize rising success, as they are associated with the idea of “rising higher” in life. Preparing Golden Shrimp for your family on Lantern Festival conveys wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and joyful new year.
Shrimp symbolize rising success, as they are associated with the idea of “rising higher” in life. Preparing Golden Shrimp for your family on Lantern Festival conveys wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and joyful new year.
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EASY9 INGREDIENTS7STEP40 MIN·
Posted: 01/27/2025
2 of 12
Golden Lucky Pork Rolls
No reunion feast is complete without Golden Lucky Pork Rolls. These rolls are packed with a rich combination of ingredients, including crisp vegetables and flavorful meat, making each bite layered with taste.
The word "roll" (卷) symbolizes unity and completeness, which perfectly matches the Lantern Festival theme of family reunion, adding warmth and blessings to the holiday table.
The word "roll" (卷) symbolizes unity and completeness, which perfectly matches the Lantern Festival theme of family reunion, adding warmth and blessings to the holiday table.
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EASY9 INGREDIENTS6STEP35 MIN·
Posted: 01/31/2025
3 of 12
Sweet and Sour Fish Recipe
No Lantern Festival meal is complete without Sweet and Sour Fish. The fish is wrapped in a vibrant, glossy sauce that’s both tangy and sweet, and the crispy, tender fish inside is a treat to the taste buds.
Fish represents “surplus,” as its pronunciation is similar to the word “余” (more than enough), symbolizing abundance and aligning perfectly with the festival’s themes of family reunion and prosperity.
Fish represents “surplus,” as its pronunciation is similar to the word “余” (more than enough), symbolizing abundance and aligning perfectly with the festival’s themes of family reunion and prosperity.
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EASY8 INGREDIENTS6STEP35 MIN·
Posted: 12/17/2024
This dish features fresh, tender Chinese lettuce stir-fried with fragrant garlic. The savory garlic pairs perfectly with the crisp texture of the lettuce, making for a simple yet delicious dish.
In China, lettuce (生菜) sounds like “生财,” meaning wealth and prosperity, symbolizing an abundant and successful new year.
In China, lettuce (生菜) sounds like “生财,” meaning wealth and prosperity, symbolizing an abundant and successful new year.
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EASY4 INGREDIENTS5STEP10 MIN·
Posted: 02/05/2025
Spring Rolls are a must-have on the Lantern Festival table. The golden, crispy exterior holds tender vegetables and fragrant fillings, delivering the essence of the festival in each bite.
Shaped like gold bars, Spring Rolls symbolize wealth and prosperity, perfectly capturing the spirit of the Lantern Festival and wishing for a year of abundance and success.
Shaped like gold bars, Spring Rolls symbolize wealth and prosperity, perfectly capturing the spirit of the Lantern Festival and wishing for a year of abundance and success.
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MEDIUM11 INGREDIENTS8STEP1 HR 30 MIN·
Posted: 01/23/2025
6 of 12
Braised Chicken Pieces
The chicken is tender and flavorful, with a rich, red color and a balance of savory and slightly sweet tastes.
Chicken (鸡) sounds like “吉” (good luck), representing good fortune and auspiciousness, and adding beautiful blessings to the reunion dinner, while everyone enjoys the delicious meal together.
Chicken (鸡) sounds like “吉” (good luck), representing good fortune and auspiciousness, and adding beautiful blessings to the reunion dinner, while everyone enjoys the delicious meal together.
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EASY10 INGREDIENTS7STEP1 HR 15 MIN·
Posted: 12/05/2024
Soft, chewy, and sweet, Aiwowo is a refreshing treat on the Lantern Festival table. The glutinous rice dough is chewy and Q-like, wrapping a sweet filling that satisfies with each bite.
Its round shape fits the Lantern Festival’s theme of family reunion, adding sweetness to the occasion and bringing joyful and happy meanings.
Its round shape fits the Lantern Festival’s theme of family reunion, adding sweetness to the occasion and bringing joyful and happy meanings.
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EASY7 INGREDIENTS7STEP1 HR 30 MIN·
Posted: 11/30/2024
Dumplings are a warm symbol of togetherness during the Lantern Festival. The thin dough wraps a rich filling—whether savory meat or refreshing vegetables—releasing juicy goodness with every bite.
The shape of the dumplings resembles gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Making and sharing dumplings with the family adds joy and fortune to the reunion celebration.
The shape of the dumplings resembles gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Making and sharing dumplings with the family adds joy and fortune to the reunion celebration.
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MEDIUM9 INGREDIENTS11STEP1 HR 30 MIN·
Posted: 12/19/2024
Rice cakes, or “年糕,” symbolize progress, as “年高” sounds like “rising with the year.” Brown Sugar Rice Cakes add an extra layer of sweetness, with a soft, chewy texture complemented by the aromatic scent of brown sugar.
This dish brings happiness with every bite and aligns perfectly with the Lantern Festival’s spirit of reunion and prosperity.
This dish brings happiness with every bite and aligns perfectly with the Lantern Festival’s spirit of reunion and prosperity.
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EASY5 INGREDIENTS5STEP40 MIN·
Posted: 10/11/2024
10 of 12
Golden Meatballs
Golden Meatballs are a standout dish on the Lantern Festival table, with their golden crispy exterior and juicy, tender interior. Each bite is filled with happiness.
The round shape of the meatballs symbolizes unity and completeness, representing family reunion and harmony. Golden Meatballs bring wishes for a round, happy, and prosperous year ahead.
The round shape of the meatballs symbolizes unity and completeness, representing family reunion and harmony. Golden Meatballs bring wishes for a round, happy, and prosperous year ahead.
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EASY11 INGREDIENTS8STEP2 HR 30 MIN·
Posted: 01/28/2025
11 of 12
Chinese Steamed Crab
For the Lantern Festival, reunion is the theme of the dinner table, and steamed crab is the perfect choice.
The crab meat is tender and white, with a delicate sweetness that lingers on the tongue, while the rich and fragrant roe delights the senses with every bite.
The crab symbolizes “wealth from all directions” and “harmonious happiness,” perfectly aligning with the festival’s wish for prosperity and family unity.
The crab meat is tender and white, with a delicate sweetness that lingers on the tongue, while the rich and fragrant roe delights the senses with every bite.
The crab symbolizes “wealth from all directions” and “harmonious happiness,” perfectly aligning with the festival’s wish for prosperity and family unity.
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EASY5 INGREDIENTS6STEP20 MIN·
Posted: 02/02/2025
No Lantern Festival gathering is complete without Jujube Cake. The sweet fragrance of red dates blends into the soft, fluffy cake, with each bite offering warmth and sweetness.
Red dates have long symbolized good fortune and reunion, making them a perfect match for the Lantern Festival’s spirit of togetherness. Gather around the table and share this sweet treat, adding even more flavor to the joy of reunion.
Red dates have long symbolized good fortune and reunion, making them a perfect match for the Lantern Festival’s spirit of togetherness. Gather around the table and share this sweet treat, adding even more flavor to the joy of reunion.
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MEDIUM3 INGREDIENTS6STEP2 HR 45 MIN·
Posted: 12/23/2024
