As this new Year of the Snake glides in, cook up some red foods, make some sticky rice cakes and give them to someone you want to reunite with and stick close to this year. Serve something you haven’t tried before, so that like the snake who sheds its skin, you evolve in this new year. Each item on a Lunar New Year menu is there for a purpose. For example:
Dumplings, for financial success
A dumpling-making party is a Lunar New Year tradition. Families share the work to make these little packets of goodness because they look like Chinese gold and silver ingots. According to legend, the more of them you eat, the more earning potential you’ll have in the coming year. Mix the dough, roll it out into rounds, and use them to wrap your fillings. Then pinch the wrapper together and cook.
Spring rolls are another Lunar New Year staple, and for the same reason: they’re said to look like gold bars. Our Thai Fresh Rolls are a fresh take on that tradition—ideal if you want to stick to your New Year’s diet as you celebrate.
Pork, for plenty of all the good things in life
In many Asian cultures, the pig is associated with wealth, strength, fertility, and prosperity. So a pork dish is a perfect choice for your Lunar New Year menu. This year, we’re making Pork Tonkatsu. It’s so crispy and buttery, it’ll bring everyone at your table some pure comfort to start the new year right.
Long noodles, long life
Uncut noodles are a classic Lunar New Year dish, because long noodles symbolize longevity. Boil them, stir-fry them, or serve them in a bowl with broth like we do in our Udon Noodle Soup so you can get the additional longevity-enhancing benefits of buckwheat and green tea.
Happiness is a good shrimp dish
Shrimp represent a lively, happy new year, because the Chinese word for “prawn” sounds like laughter! Try tossing some into this Asian Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce. Or use the dressing as a dipping sauce for spring rolls. We also love serving it as a Lunar New Year alternative to the usual shrimp cocktail sauce.
How does a tangerine sound?
Tangerines, pomelos, oranges—the Chinese words for these fruits all sound like good wishes for a prosperous new year. And that’s a lucky coincidence, since it’s peak citrus season now, and we have the best of the crops in our produce section waiting for you. Come taste our grower-partners’ successes and fill a bowl with some golden goodness for your Lunar New Year table.
Now fire up your stove, and freestyle your own happy, prosperous Year of the Snake menu. Need more preparation tips? Chef Joya’s got you. Just check out all her recipes here.