East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year, set to begin on February 17 and extend over a 15-day period. Each Chinese zodiac year is linked to an element within the cycle. Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse signifies a period conducive to significant life transformations, characterized by intense action, personal development, and a heightened pace of life.
This particular zodiac year occurs only once every 60 years on the lunar calendar, making it a unique and rare occurrence for many individuals. To commemorate the Year of the Fire Horse, we had the pleasure of interviewing author Angela Hui, who fondly shared her affection for Lunar New Year and the cherished memories created with loved ones, alongside a delightful recipe that you can easily prepare at home.
Before delving into the culinary experience, why not create your own paper fire horse through the ancient Chinese art of paper folding, provided by Tesco? Simply access the printable sheet below and follow the instructional video above.
Lunar New Year holds a special place as one of the most significant occasions, often referred to as the “Asian Christmas” in many households, marking the most important holiday in the calendar year. It serves as a time for family gatherings, paying homage to ancestors, and inviting good fortune into the upcoming year.
Personally, one of the highlights of returning home is the opportunity to cook alongside my talented chef mother. Food serves as our primary mode of communication, embodying our shared love language. While preparing meals together, time seems to fade away. Engaging in casual chatter akin to family elders, we fold dumplings and slice vegetables in harmony. There’s a comforting rhythm in our unspoken kitchen interactions, where mere presence suffices, often rendering words unnecessary.
Culinary choices play a pivotal role in shaping our festive celebrations. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes that represent aspirations for the forthcoming year is customary. We eagerly immerse ourselves in planning the familial Lunar New Year menu days in advance, exchanging recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes. “Whole steamed fish is indispensable,” my mother insists, citing the Chinese phrase “年年有余, leen leen yow yu,” symbolizing a wish for prosperity and surplus in every year.
Prompted by my query about dumplings, a traditional symbol of wealth, we engage in a discussion. Dumplings, believed to enhance one’s prosperity with each consumed piece, bear a resemblance to ancient gold ingots, encouraging indulgence. “Let’s try crafting money bag dumplings using cabbage wraps,” I propose. Our dialogue continues, meticulously planning until our conversation threads are inundated with voice notes, ultimately settling on a selection of eight dishes symbolizing affluence, fortune, and completeness.
Below, I’ve shared a recipe for steamed fish to prepare at home, with all necessary ingredients available at Tesco.
**Ingredients:**
– 1 whole or filleted seabass
– 1/4 tsp white sugar
– 1/2 thumb of ginger
– 1 spring onion
– 1 handful of fresh coriander
– 1 tbsp light soy sauce
– 1 tsp sesame oil
– 1 tbsp vegetable oil
**Serve with:**
– White jasmine rice
– Pak choi or choi sum (optional)
**Instructions:**
After cleaning and scaling the fish, sprinkle sugar over it to enhance its flavor before steaming. While the fish steams, prepare ginger, spring onion, and coriander to garnish. Once cooked, drizzle soy sauce and sesame oil over the fish. Heat vegetable oil until hot and drizzle it over the fish. Serve with rice and greens.
The Year of the Fire Horse may signal a time of significant change, new prospects, personal evolution, and a faster pace of life. Nonetheless, the Lunar New Year serves as a gentle reminder to pause, cherish moments with family, bid farewell to the old year, invite prosperity into the new year, and, of course, make room for indulging in delicious feasts.