8 Chinese New Year Food Symbols: The Flavors of the Festival in Every Dish
Modified: 01/23/2025
On the dining table during Chinese New Year, delicious food is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a carrier of culture and emotion. Each delicacy has a unique meaning and is a blessing accumulated over the years. Next, let's explore the symbolic meanings behind eight Chinese New Year foods and feel the warmth and expectation in the traditional taste of the new year.
Dumplings are traditional Chinese delicacies. They are made by wrapping various fillings in wrappers and can be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried. Eating dumplings during Chinese New Year is not only because of their rich taste but also because they have a beautiful meaning of family reunion and wealth. The whole family sitting around making dumplings symbolizes reunion and prosperity in the new year. Dumplings are shaped like ingots, symbolizing attracting wealth and treasure. They are an excellent choice for the New Year's Eve dinner.
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MEDIUM9 INGREDIENTS11STEP1 HR 30 MIN·
Posted: 12/19/2024
Rice cakes are made by steaming glutinous rice and other ingredients. They have a soft and glutinous texture and can be pan-fried, stir-fried, boiled, or deep-fried. Combined with different ingredients, they can have diverse flavors. Eating rice cakes during Chinese New Year, because of the homophonic sound of "year high", implies rising year by year. It expresses people's beautiful expectations for a smooth career and studies and a prosperous life in the new year. It is an indispensable auspicious delicacy for the New Year's Eve dinner.
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EASY4 INGREDIENTS10STEP30 MIN·
Posted: 01/19/2025
There are many ways to cook fish, such as steaming, braising in soy sauce, and sweet and sour. Each has a unique flavor. Eating fish during Chinese New Year is because "fish" has the same pronunciation as "surplus", symbolizing having a surplus every year and implying a bountiful harvest and wealth. Putting a plate of fish on the New Year's Eve dinner table is full of wishes for a prosperous life and abundant wealth in the new year. It is a traditional delicacy for the Spring Festival.
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EASY10 INGREDIENTS9STEP50 MIN·
Posted: 12/06/2024
Spring rolls are made by wrapping various fillings in thin wrappers and then deep-frying. The outer skin is crispy and the filling is fresh and fragrant. Eating spring rolls during Chinese New Year, the word "spring" implies welcoming spring and receiving blessings and starting a new year. Their shape is like gold bars, symbolizing bringing in wealth. At the New Year's Eve dinner, they carry beautiful wishes and are a symbol of the taste and blessings of the new year.
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MEDIUM11 INGREDIENTS8STEP1 HR 30 MIN·
Posted: 01/23/2025
5 of 8
Easy Meatball Recipe
Meatballs are mostly made of ingredients such as pork. After being deep-fried or stewed, they have a firm and springy texture, are fragrant, tender, and juicy. Eating them in the new year, because of their round shape, implies family reunion and symbolizes that the family is closely connected. At the New Year's Eve dinner, meatballs are full of deep expectations for a happy and harmonious family.
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EASY11 INGREDIENTS6STEP45 MIN·
Posted: 10/18/2024
White cut chicken has yellow skin and white meat, maintaining the original flavor of chicken. The meat is tender, the skin is smooth, and the meat is slippery. Eating it during Chinese New Year, because "chicken" has the same pronunciation as "auspicious", implies good luck and happiness. In the New Year's Eve dinner, white cut chicken carries people's beautiful wishes for everything going smoothly and being safe and auspicious in the new year. It is a classic dish for the reunion dinner.
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EASY6 INGREDIENTS8STEP40 MIN·
Posted: 01/11/2025
Braised pig's trotters have an attractive red and bright color. After slow cooking, the meat is soft and glutinous and melts in the mouth with a rich fragrance. Eating them during Chinese New Year has the homophonic meaning of "getting rich easily", implying being able to seize wealth and good luck in the coming year. In the New Year's Eve dinner, they carry people's eager expectations for a prosperous life. It is a delicacy full of beautiful meanings.
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EASY13 INGREDIENTS13STEP1 HR 40 MIN·
Posted: 12/27/2024
8 of 8
Sichuan Red Oil Hot Pot
Hot pot has a variety of ingredients, with a combination of meat and vegetables that can be freely chosen. The ingredients in the boiling pot roll around, and the family sits around and shares. Eating hot pot during Chinese New Year, the more ingredients are cooked, the more it implies having abundance and surplus. The scene of sitting around and eating together symbolizes family reunion. It is a warm and cozy choice for the New Year's Eve dinner.
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EASY10 INGREDIENTS7STEP1 HR 5 MIN·
Posted: 10/29/2024
