If there's one thing we can get behind, it's celebratory eating. Chinese New Year, like most new year celebrations comes with a host of traditional foods and recipes. Where Chinese tradition gets it right is in its insistence that eating a certain way can influence the outcome of the coming year.
If you grew up in a Chinese household, you probably already have your favorite combinations. If not, we've made you a bit of a cheat sheet. Think shrimp for happiness and joy, noodles for longevity and spring rolls for wealth. We pulled together a few of our favorite Chinese New Year recipes, and have noted their symbolic equivalents. This way, you can make sure that you're getting the right amount of prosperity, abundance, health and joy. Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!
If we missed your favorite traditional lunar new year food, let us know what it is in the comments.
Spring rolls and egg rolls symbolize wealth, because their shape resembles gold bars.
These traditional treats are eaten to ensure prosperity in the new year.
Dumplings and pot stickers also symbolize wealth.
This glutinous rice cake is eaten symbolizes achieving new heights in the coming year.
Serving the longest noodles you can promotes longevity in the coming year.
Eating fish on Chinese New Year, especially whole fish, symbolizes abundance.
Serving a whole duck or chicken on Chinese New Year symbolizes good health.
The tiny flowers in broccoli and cauliflower florets symbolize blossoming flowers, for a blossoming and beautiful new year.
Long beans, like long noodles, promote longevity.
Eating rice on the new year promotes fertility, luck and wealth.
These tarts are a Chinese New Year staple on Malaysian and Singaporean tables.
Peanuts are a good luck food that symbolize a long life.
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