To celebrate Chinese New Year, traditional dishes are a must-have, and this article provides step-by-step recipes to help. Firstly, the kitchen should be prepared, and utensils cleaned and organised. The article recommends traditional snacks such as spring rolls and dumplings with recipes and instructions for making both dishes. Along with side dishes, the article provides recipes for popular main course dishes like Lo Mein and Whole Steamed Fish. These dishes use traditional Chinese ingredients such as sesame oil and soy sauce, reflecting the festival’s cultural significance. The article concludes with the reminder that traditional Chinese dishes are an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Traditional Chinese Dishes for New Year’s Celebrations: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
The Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebrations in the Chinese calendar, and it is a time for family, friends, and great food. If you are looking to celebrate the Lunar New Year in style, you will need some traditional Chinese dishes to mark the occasion. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most popular Chinese New Year dishes and provide you with step-by-step recipes to make it easier for you to prepare a feast for family and friends.
Step 1: Preparing the Kitchen
Before you start cooking, it is important to prepare your kitchen properly. Here are some steps you should take:
- Clean all the utensils, cooking tools, and surfaces that you will be using.
- Wash and dry all the fresh ingredients to ensure they’re clean and ready for cooking.
- Organize all the ingredients according to the recipes you’ll be using.
- Prepare the kitchen for deep frying and steaming.
Step 2: Traditional Chinese Snacks and Appetizers
No Chinese New Year is complete without traditional snacks and appetizers. Here are some popular options:
Spring Rolls
These crispy and delicious rolls are a must-have when celebrating Chinese New Year.
Ingredients:
- 10 spring roll wrappers
- 1 cup of ground pork
- 1 medium-sized carrot
- 3-4 shitake mushrooms
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of water
- Oil for frying
Instructions:
- Finely chop the carrot, mushrooms, and garlic.
- Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and fry the garlic until fragrant.
- Add the ground pork and stir until cooked.
- Add the chopped carrot and mushrooms to the pan and cook until soft.
- Season with soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.
- Mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl to create a paste.
- Place a spoonful of the mixture in the center of a spring roll wrapper and roll it up tightly.
- Seal the edges with the cornstarch paste.
- Heat some oil in a frying pan to 375°F.
- Carefully place the spring rolls in the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
Dumplings
Dumplings are another popular snack for Chinese New Year. Here is a recipe for traditional Chinese dumplings:
Ingredients:
- 1 package of dumpling wrappers
- 1 pound of ground pork
- 1 bunch of scallions
- 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger, grated
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of water
- Oil for frying
Instructions:
- Finely chop the scallions and mix them with the ground pork in a large bowl.
- Add the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil to the pork mixture.
- Stir the pork mixture until thoroughly combined.
- Place a spoonful of the mixture onto a dumpling wrapper.
- Brush the edges of the wrapper with beaten egg.
- Fold the wrapper over and pinch the edges to seal.
- Continue filling the remaining wrappers with the pork mixture.
- Mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl to create a paste.
- Heat some oil in a frying pan to 375°F.
- Carefully place the dumplings in the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
Step 3: Main Course Dishes
Now it’s time for the main course dishes. Here are two traditional Chinese dishes you can prepare for your Chinese New Year feast:
Lo Mein
This classic noodle dish is always a hit for Chinese New Year. Here’s a recipe that is easy to make at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of Chinese egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1/2 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast or medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup of sliced carrots
- 1 cup of sliced onions
- 1 cup of sliced bell peppers
- 1 cup of sliced bok choy
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of water
- 1/4 cup of chopped scallions
Instructions:
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions and drain.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large pan over high heat.
- Add the chicken or shrimp, and stir-fry until cooked.
- Add the carrots, onions, bell peppers, and bok choy, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and hoisin sauce.
- Add the sauce to the pan and stir-fry for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl to create a paste.
- Add the cornstarch paste to the pan and stir-fry until the sauce thickens.
- Add the cooked noodles to the pan and stir-fry until well combined.
- Garnish with chopped scallions and serve.
Whole Steamed Fish
A steamed fish is a must-have dish for Chinese New Year. Here’s how to prepare it:
Ingredients:
- 1 whole fish (preferably sea bass), scaled and gutted
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons of Shaoxing wine
- 1/2 inch of ginger, thinly sliced
- 2-3 scallions
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of hot water
Instructions:
- Clean the fish thoroughly and make three diagonal cuts on each side.
- Rub soy sauce over the fish and let it marinate for 20 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan and stir-fry the ginger until fragrant.
- Add Shaoxing wine to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Place the fish on a plate and pour the ginger and Shaoxing wine mixture over the fish.
- Place the fish in a steamer and steam for 25-30 minutes or until cooked.
- While the fish is steaming, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and hot water in a small bowl.
- Once the fish is cooked, remove it from the steamer and pour the sauce over it.
- Garnish with scallions and serve hot.
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of traditional Chinese dishes that can be prepared for Chinese New Year. No matter your preference, there are plenty of recipes to choose from to create a festive and delicious meal. With these step-by-step guides, you can make a perfect feast for your loved ones to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Happy cooking and Happy Chinese New Year!