Eating our way to good luck? We're there.
Mark your calendar for February 10, 2024, because this year (the year of the Dragon, to be exact), you can celebrate the Chinese New Year with homemade classics to bring you good luck, like dumplings, fortune cookies, and even a whole peking chicken. Eating our way to good luck? We're SO very there, and it doesn't get any easier than with these 30 Chinese New Year recipes that'll surely bring you prosperity, luck, and some pretty good eating this year. đ
Whatever you decide to make this year, dumplings should surely make your to-make list. It's such a special ritual, not to mention a delicious one at that. Our homemade dumpling process involves lots of love in the processâé¤ĺ (jiao zi) are often made in the company of loved ones around Chinese New Year to celebrate families gathering together. Their shape resembles Chinese gold ingots, a currency that was used during the Ming dynasty, and are meant to represent prosperity, wealth, and health. If you want to fast-track your way to dumpling-induced wealth, our air-fryer potstickers and wonton soup recipes are both very worthy substitutes!
Other honorable mentions to round out your prosperity-packed New Year? Ingredients like citrus, such as oranges (which symbolize good fortune), roasting whole chickens or fish (which symbolize wholeness and abundance), serving long noodles like Dan Dan noodles (which symbolize longevity), and spring rolls (which symbolize wealth) are all classic good luck foods to serve.
Looking to round out your feast? Check out more Chinese New Year-friendly ideas with all the good luck charmsâwe've got recipes for fish, noodles, dumplings, and more.
1
Soup Dumplings
We absolutely LOVE dumplings, and xiaolongbao, the Chinese version filled with ground pork and gelatinized pork broth, are some of the best. Though traditionally pork bones are used to make the broth semi-solid, they can be hard to find, so we've subbed in gelatin and whatever broth you like. Trust us, once heated up, these dumplings are still just as heavenly.
Get the Soup Dumplings recipe.
2
Congee with Youtiao (Chinese Donuts)
Bowls of congee in Beijing are often served with a donut called ć˛šć˘ (youtiao) that's commonly served at New Year's celebrations. Literally meaning âoil stick,â youtiao are consumed hot and fresh from the morning vendorâs drum of frying oil, the softly crunchy exterior giving way to a tender but slightly chewy crumb with large air pocketsâperfect for dipping into a bowl of warm congee.
Get the Congee with Youtiao (Chinese Donuts) recipe.
3
Grilled Red Snapper
If you're really paranoid about this gorgeous red fish sticking to your grill, make sure to cook over high heat and don't touch the snapper until its skin is crispy. You could also cook over a few slices of lemon or onion to provide a protective layer. Not only will this ensure no stuck bits, but it will also add some flavor to your fish.
Get the Grilled Red Snapper recipe.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
4
Homemade Dumplings
Take your time and give this homemade dumpling process lots of loveâé¤ĺ (jiao zi) are often made in the company of loved ones around Chinese New Year to celebrate families gathering together. Their shape resembles Chinese gold ingots, a currency that was used during the Ming dynasty, and are meant to represent prosperity, wealth, and health.
Get the Homemade Dumplings recipe.
5
Orange Chicken
Orange chicken has become a staple in Chinese-American cuisine, and is a classic choice when it comes to takeout. The dish involves fried chicken tossed in a thick sauce made from orange juice, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, chili sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice. The result is crispy bites of chicken coated in a sweet and sticky orange-flavored sauce that seeps perfectly onto an accompanying pile of rice.
Get the Orange Chicken recipe.
6
Pan-Fried Noodles in Superior Soy Sauce
Pan-fried noodles go through a two- step tango to reach peak pleasure: First theyâre quickly boiled and then theyâre thrown into the wok to get their crispiness. Itâs in the burning crucible of this wok, endowed with wok hei, that the noodles develop their fragrant satisfying character, commingling under such high temperature with the soy sauce, wine, oil, sugar, and herbs.
Get the Pan-Fried Noodles in Superior Soy Sauce recipe.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
7
Tang Yuan: Glutinous Rice Balls
Usually eaten on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, tang yuan (暯ĺ) is a sweet treat that symbolizes familial unity and togetherness. Our favorite fillings are sweet black sesame and ground peanuts, but feel free to get creative with your fillings (Nutella, tahini, peanut butter...).
Get the Tang Yuan: Glutinous Rice Balls recipe.
8
Fortune Cookies
Our best tip for making these Chinese cookies is to embrace trial and error! Youâll likely fail a few times before you get them right, but that's all part of the enjoyment. What better sentiment for ringing in the New Year?
Get the Fortune Cookies recipe.
9
Roast Chicken
The perfect centerpiece to any holiday dinner (especially Chinese New Year where a whole roast chicken is a lucky charm), the steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy.
Get the Roast Chicken recipe.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
10
Dan Dan Noodles
Originating from Chinese Sichuan cooking, Dan Dan noodles were named for the carrying pole (aka dan dan) that street vendors used to carry baskets of noodles and sauce. While sometimes served as a soup in China, American versions are usually more saucy than soupy, and often include sesame paste, peanut butter, or tahini.
Get the Dan Dan Noodles recipe.
11
Steamed Buns (Baozi)
Making steamed buns that look like beauty queens might take some practice but it's really what's on the inside that matters here: the dough is soft but not too cake-y, tender with a slight chew, with a barely sweetened taste that pairs well with, well, almost anything. Our recipe includes three filling optionsâred bean paste, miso carrots, and pork.
Get the Steamed Buns (Baozi) recipe.
12
Whole Roasted Trout
Trout's delicate flavor is the perfect match for citrus and herbs, which is why we love to roast it whole, filling it with all our favorite aromatics. Encasing the fish in foil steams the fish, trapping in all that delicious, buttery jus.
Get the Whole Roasted Trout recipe.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
13
Summer Rolls With Peanut Dipping Sauce
For our recipe, we rolled gently poached shrimp, springy rice noodles, crunchy vegetables, and fresh green herbs into al dente rice paper sheets, but the dish is highly adaptable. The shrimp can be replaced with slices of cooked pork, cilantro can take the place of mint or basil, and romaine or even iceberg can be a good Napa cabbage substitute.
Get the Summer Rolls With Peanut Dipping Sauce recipe.
14
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
A Chinese-American staple, egg rolls are one of our favorite dishes to experiment with and symbolize wealth. From reuben egg rolls to antipasto egg rolls (even Snickers egg rolls), we can't get enough of this versatile snack. Once we discovered the magic of the air fryer, we knew we had to develop an egg roll recipe for our new favorite gadget.
Get the Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe.
15
Beef & Broccoli Noodles
With soy sauce-infused flank steak and broccoli, these rice noodles are packed with flavor. This sauce is truly legendary, too, so use it whenever you can: on roasted Brussels sprouts, baked salmon, or with chicken tenders.
Get the .
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
16
Wonton Soup
We turn to this quick and easy wonton soup over and over when temperatures start dropping. Not only does it come together in a flash, it's also super-satisfying without weighing you down. If you'd like to add some veggies to this soup, try dropping some quartered bok choy into the boiling broth a couple minutes before serving.
Get the Wonton Soup recipe.
17
Peking-Style Chicken
Peking duck is a classic of Beijing cuisine, has extra-crispy and shiny skin, and is usually served in very thin slices and wrapped in some form of crepe. Using chicken is certainly untraditional but will give you similar results at home!
Get the Peking Style-Chicken recipe.
18
Butternut Squash Potstickers
Making your own potstickers doesn't have to complicated! These vegan potstickers are easy to put together and most of your time is spent roasting your squash until really tender, which can be done ahead of time. Crimping takes a little practice, but the good news is that even if they look a little wonky they are still going to taste great! Grab a friend and start assembling!
Get the Butternut Squash Potstickers recipe.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
19
Poached Chicken Breast
Poached chicken is a delicious Chinese New Year tradition that's often a main dish, and let's face it: We hear "poached chicken breast" and we hear "tasteless, rubbery, no thanks." Before we jump to conclusions, can we interest you in some nutmeg-thyme gravy? We thought so!
Get the Poached Chicken Breast recipe.
20
Shrimp Toasts
Thought to have been created in China about a century ago, shrimp toast combines traditional Chinese shrimp paste with Western white bread to create one of the earliest fusion foods. Try the recipe, and you'll understand why this co*cktail hour staple has stood the test of time and will help you bring in some much-needed happiness via the shrimp's Chinese New Year symbolism. đ
Get the Shrimp Toasts recipe.