Chinese New Year is a fantastic time to get stuck into some Chinese cooking. A lot of us can still be a bit intimidated by Chinese cuisine, but it isn’t as hard as you might think – there are loads of delicious recipes that can easily be created in the comfort of your own kitchen. The key is to get everything chopped and prepped before you even go near the stove – especially when stir-frying, which can take no longer than a few minutes.
Certain dishes have particular symbolism when served at Chinese New Year. Rice cakes, for example, are often eaten as a celebration of the rice harvest which happens right at the beginning of spring. Dumplings and spring rolls symbolise wealth, and eating fruit encourages good fortune. There are lots of customs surrounding fish at Chinese New Year too – the serving of whole fish symbolises unity and you should always leave leftovers as this portends that you will start and finish the year with a surplus of food. It’s also said that the fish shouldn’t be moved during the meal and those facing the head and tail of the fish should drink together!
Whether you’re just looking for an excuse to get to grips with Chinese cooking and eat some delicious food or want to welcome in the Year of The Rat in style, here are four fantastic Chinese recipes for a New Year’s feast that are a little different from what you'd normally find, but easy to put together.
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4 simple recipes to cook for Chinese New Year