11 Traditional Lunar New Year Foods to Eat in 2023

The Lunar Year, which is celebrated in many Asian countries and also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year celebrations, is a time for families to come together. This is one reason the "reunion dinner", which Vietnamese and Chinese families eat on the previous night, is so important New Years's tradition. It is important to have a wide variety of food at the table.

When it comes to the "lucky" Lunar New Year foods, there are many layers of symbolism involved. The name of the dish, its preparation, and even the way it is served can all add meaning to the meal, making it more special. It is important to remember that China is the largest country in the world and the ingredients and preparations of every dish are native to that region. Even though Chinatowns have made them popular through American Chinese food, it is not the same thing. Kho says that every area in China has its own customs. Kho says that it is rare to find a common tradition that is celebrated by everyone in China. However, he adds that there are many exceptions. Here are 11 examples and descriptions of traditional Lunar New Year foods.

Sweet glutinous rice cake (nian gao)

Sometimes called a "new year cake" (or just "year cake"), nian gao can be translated to mean a "new year cake". It is made from glutinous and sweet glutinous flours and can be sweetened or savory depending upon the region. Kho said that it is very sticky and dense. Kho explains that "nian," which translates to "year," is a homophone of the word for sticky. "They're both different characters but they're pronounced exactly alike," he said. Gao loosely refers to "higher up", so nian gao is meant to signify greater success in the new calendar year.

The sweet version of the Chinese New Year's cake is wrapped in paper and eaten often on the eve. It's made with sugar and can be given to good luck for the new year. According to Kho, the savory version is usually stir-fried in dishes at northern Chinese and Shanghainese restaurants.

Whole fish

Kho said that fish is a symbol of Chinese New Year Food. He also stated that fish will be served at almost every meal, in different ways. This is a case in which two words are pronounced the exact same way, even though they have different characters.

Kho says that 'fish' is pronounced in Mandarin and other dialects as 'yu'. This is the same pronunciation of 'leftover'. The idea is to have enough food and wealth each year so you can have more the next year.

Whole Chicken

The Lunar New Year's overarching theme is "Togetherness", and a whole chicken is another symbol of that unity. Kho says that serving a whole meal of meat signifies the family's reunion.

Dumplings (Jiaozi)

It is a sign of wealth--you have all the money you're eating." Most people associate the silver ingot with the white dumpling wrapper. Kho states that the egg wrapper dumpling is actually an omelet filled with filling.

According to the tourism organization China Highlights some believe that certain fillings can have lucky connotations; cabbage and radish are good for skin and mood. However, you should avoid Chinese sauerkraut dumplings because it suggests a poor future.

You can fill the balls with any sweet, from peanuts to red beans to taro to taro to nuts to sesame. However, Kho's favorite filling is sesame.

Braised Shiitake Mushrooms

Braised shiitake mushrooms and bok choy, a type of Chinese cabbage, are a traditional dish that many Chinese families eat at Lunar New Year.

Tangerines and Oranges

Kho says that tangerines are the most common fruit to grace the table. However, you will likely see oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits. This was originally a Cantonese tradition. However, it is also a homonym for luck. Cheng (cheng/chnng) is the word for tangerine. It sounds exactly like a word that can bring good fortune. They are usually served at the end and exchanged with relatives when they visit.

Longevity noodles

Longevity noodles are most commonly found in southern China. They are typically made as one long thin strand. Kho says that longevity noodles are now just very long noodles. "It's not one strand." They are often served with broth or a gravy-like sauce.

Candy and other sweets

Kho says that anything sweet like candy or dried fruit is very popular during Chinese New Year. "It symbolizes a sweet and happy life."

Jujube

Kho also mentions that jujube is another common ingredient in Asian cuisine. He says it is traditional at Chinese New Year as it is red. Red is also the color of happiness and prosperity.

Spring Rolls

These savory fried rolls are a Chinese New Year's favorite. China Highlights explains that spring rolls are a lot like gold bars.