Happy year of the Rabbit! Rabbits are said to symbolize longevity, peace, and prosperity.
Lot’s of foods are traditional in many Chinese and Far East Asian households to help celebrate the new year. Here’s a quick list of foods that we’ve featured here on Knead & Nosh in the last year:
- Dumplings — Commonly eaten as they symbolize wealth and prosperity (more on that topic!).
- Noodles — Often associated to long life, noodles can be prepared in many ways. Best of all, when you make them from scratch, you can make them as long as you like!
- Spring Rolls — Similar to dumplings, since they are fried golden brown, and their shape, they look like golden bars, so they also symbolize wealth in the new year.
- Tang Yuan — The sound of the pronunciation of Tang Yuan is similar to a phrase in Chinese about togetherness and family. Additionally, since they are round white balls, they look like the moon. These sweet glutinous rice balls are often eaten in a sweet syrup flavored with a little ginger and/or osmanthus flower.
- Luóbo Gāo — Often referred to as Turnip cake in English, it’s actually made from Daikon Radish, not turnip. Like tang yuan, this favorite dim sum dish is often eaten at new year celebrations because of a word play. The word for cake in Chinese sounds like the word rise, high, or up. Many will wish someone “Bù bù gāo shēng” or “May you rise a step higher”. That can be interpreted however you like — as s student that you advance to the next grade, or you take your business to the next level.
And, of course, don’t forget the the circle in Chinese culture represents harmony, the balance of the yin and yang and the duality of nature. So, you could also have yourself a bagel 🙂
Happy Year of the Rabbit everyone!