Chinese New Year

What is eaten for Chinese New Year

The Spring Festival begins with the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, the most important meal of the Chinese year. Most dishes are chosen because their names sound like good fortune. A whole fish is served and not finished, because fish sounds like surplus. Northern families fold dumplings shaped like old silver ingots and eat them at midnight. In the south there is nian gao, a sticky rice cake whose name sounds like a higher year. In Singapore and Malaysia people toss the raw fish salad yusheng high with their chopsticks.

The dishes

JiaoziDumplings shaped like ingots, eaten at midnight in the north.Nian gaoSticky rice cake whose name promises a better year.Spring rollFried golden rolls that look like bars of gold.Buddha's delightVegetarian dish eaten on the first day.TangyuanRound rice balls for family togetherness.

More dishes made for Chinese New Year

Laba garlicVegan 🇨🇳 ChinaGarlic cloves pickled in vinegar for the Laba Festival in northern China Sauce, pickle or ferment Jian duiVegetarian 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreFried glutinous rice balls coated with sesame seeds and filled with sweet paste Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Shumai烧卖 / 燒賣 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings filled with seasoned meat, often served as dim sum Dumpling, Breakfast, Lunch Kuih粿 / کوءيه / kue 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 5 moreBite-sized sweet or savoury snacks made from rice or glutinous rice flour Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks