East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to observe the Lunar New Year, which commences on 17 February and spans 15 days.
Every Chinese zodiac year aligns with an element within the cycle – ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse, signifying a period conducive to significant life transformations. This year symbolizes high-stakes action, personal advancement, and an accelerated life rhythm.
Since it only occurs once every 60 years on the zodiac calendar, many may not experience it again in their lifetime.
In celebration of the Year of the Fire Horse, we had the opportunity to chat with author Angela Hui, who shared her affection for Lunar New Year, reminiscing about cherished moments with loved ones, and providing a delightful recipe for home preparation.
Before you dive into the culinary realm, why not craft your own fire horse through the traditional Chinese art of paper folding, as demonstrated by Tesco? Simply print the provided sheet and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
Lunar New Year holds a special place as one of the most significant occasions, often referred to as “Asian Christmas” by many families, marking the grandest festivity on the calendar.
It’s a time for family reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and welcoming good luck.
My fondest memories of home revolve around the joy of cooking alongside my talented chef mother. Food serves as our unique form of communication, our shared language.
When we cook together, time seems to stand still. Engaging in casual chatter akin to aunties while folding dumplings or silently preparing vegetables side by side, there’s a comforting rhythm in the kitchen that requires no words, just presence.
Food not only dictates our celebration plans but also carries deep cultural significance. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes embodies hopes for the forthcoming year.
We eagerly delve into intricate discussions about the family Lunar New Year menu days beforehand, exchanging recipe concepts, photos, videos, and voice notes. “Whole steamed fish is essential,” my mother insists, emphasizing the wish for abundance and prosperity, “年年有余, leen leen yow yu.”
“What about dumplings?” I suggest. Dumplings symbolize wealth, with the belief that the more you consume, the wealthier you become, their shape resembling ancient gold ingots, urging us to indulge generously.
“Perhaps we can make money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers,” I propose.
Our exchanges continue until our chat history is brimming with voice notes, eventually culminating in the selection of eight dishes symbolizing prosperity, luck, and completeness.
I’ve included my steamed fish recipe below for your culinary exploration at home. All necessary ingredients for this delectable dish are available at Tesco.