15 Lunar New Year Recipes For Welcoming In Good Fortune
On February 1, Asian communities across the globe will start celebrating the Lunar New Year. Also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year — though Chinese people aren't the only ones who celebrate the occasion — the Lunar New Year honors the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars that are used in Asian countries like Vietnam, China, North and South Korea, and Tibet.
Between a few days and several weeks, Lunar New Year celebrations will differ based on the culture. But overall, the holiday is about bringing good fortune into the new year. Houses are cleaned, firecrackers are lit, red envelopes of money are gifted, dragon and lion dances occur, and of course, delicious and traditional foods are eaten.
If you're looking to celebrate Lunar New Year with some yummy, traditional, and international recipes, look no further.
1. My Korean Kitchen's Manduguk (Korean Dumpling Soup)
This popular Korean New Year dumpling soup is typically made in North Korea, whereas South Korea tends to feature a Korean rice cake soup.
Get the full recipe here.
2. Nom Life's Pork Dumplings
Dumplings are another symbolic Chinese New Year dish because, per Oprah Magazine, they are meant to look like inglot: ancient gold and silver coins. Dumplings — like these pork, chili oil, and black rice vinegar ones from Nom Life — represent prosperity.
Get the full recipe here.
3. Healthy Nibbles' Turnip Cake (Lo Bak Go)
Another Chinese New Year staple, this dim sum dish is made of Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, dried scallops, and daikon.
Get the full recipe here.
4. Cooking With Lane's Thit Kho (Vietnamese Caramelized, Braised Pork With Eggs)
Known as a Vietnamese comfort food made to celebrate Tet/Lunar New Year in Vietnam, thit kho consists of braised pork belly and pork shoulder in a caramelized sauce with jasmine rice and hard-boiled eggs.
Get the full recipe here.
5. China Sichuan Food's Steamed Whole Fish
For Chinese New Year, a whole fish symbolizes an abundance of food and wealth. This particular recipe highlights a Cantonese take on the dish.
Get the full recipe here.
6. The Curious Chickpea's Tibetan Vegetable Momos
According to YoWangdu Experience Tibet, momos (Tibetan steamed dumplings) are popular at Losar/Tibetan New Year parties. However, these are not eaten on the first day of the new year, since their closed shape is seen as unlucky. This particular version is completely vegan.
Get the full recipe here.
7. Viet World Kitchen's Banh Chung Tet Sticky Rice Cakes
"At the center of Vietnamese Tet menus is banh chung, a special sticky rice cake filled with butter yellow mung beans and fatty pork," writes Vietnamese food blogger and chef Andrea Nguyen. "It's hearty yet delicately fragrant and stained green because it's wrapped in tropical green leaves (la dong in Vietnam and banana leaf and bamboo leaves abroad)."
Get the full recipe here.
8. Oh My Food Recipes' Chinese New Year Nian Gao
This rice flour cake is synonymous with the Chinese New Year, and symbolizes an increase in prosperity. Though this recipe is made in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, there are plenty of recipes that only require a steamer or slow cooker.
Get the full recipe here.
9. The Woks of Life's Stir-Fried Rice Cakes (Nian Gao)
This savory rice cake dish features leafy greens, pork (or chicken), and of course, stir-fried rice cakes. According to Steamy Kitchen, chǎo niángāo is the Shanghainese and Korean stir-fry version of nian gao.
Get the full recipe here.
Though these vegan, gluten-free Korean tea cookies do need to be made with a special Dasik mold, we'd say it's worth the extra purchase. Just look at how beautiful these turned out!
Get the full recipe here.
11. RunAwayRice's Sticky Rice Balls in Ginger Syrup (Chè Trôi Nước)
"The slightly chewy, sticky dough with its [mung] bean filling and oh-so-sweet ginger syrup are a heavenly combination," writes Vietnamese food blogger Trang. "My mom made this every year around Tet/Lunar New Year."
Get the full recipe here.
12. YoWangdu Experience's Tibet Khapse
Khapse is a deep-fried pastry eaten on special occasions like Losar/Tibetan New Year. They can be made in many fun shapes, but this particular recipe features twisted strips.
Get the full recipe here.
13. Red House Spice's Tang Yuan (Chinese Glutinous Rice Balls)
This sweet recipe is traditionally served on the last day of Chinese New Year, and the filling consists of sugar, nuts, and lard. However, this particular recipe can also be made with black sesame seeds.
Get the full recipe here.
14. Rasa Malaysia's Mini Spring Rolls With Chicken Floss
These golden, deep-fried mini spring rolls can be filled with either chicken or pork floss. Food blogger Bee adds that they are perfect to make with family gathered around the table together.
Get the full recipe here.
15. The Viet Vegan's Vegan Red Curry Braided Dumplings
If you're vegan or are hosting someone who is vegan for Lunar New Year, you'll want to make these flavorful red curry dumplings that are almost too pretty to eat (almost).
Get the full recipe here.