A bonus opportunity to ring in the New Year (of the Ox) with good fortune!
Long before my travels to Europe or Asia, my first real memories of experiencing a different culture came from visits to Chinatown’s in big cities like NYC, San Francisco, Toronto and Honolulu. Looking in awe at the ducks hanging from their necks in the restaurant windows, making my way down the streets listening to a foreign language, my first dim sum spread, watching a morning Tai Chi class in the park, checking out the Chinese medicine store, my first foot massage!! So many sights, smells and sounds to explore and a walk through a Chinatown always ignited my passion for discovering new foods and cultures. Little did I know then that my first experience living outside the U.S. would be in Taipei, Taiwan!
Chinatowns all over the world are struggling in the COVID era, wishes for good fortune, luck and health are louder than ever this year. Organizations, grassroots groups and volunteers throughout the world are using the Lunar New Year to raise money for Chinatown businesses hit especially hard since the onset of the pandemic. Creative initiatives and virtual events are using art, storytelling, culture and community to highlight the people behind the businesses that make Chinatowns so special to countless Asian Americans.
Now would be a great time to support your local Chinese businesses, learn more about the Lunar New Year (February 12-26) and share Chinese food and culture with your family! While New Year festivities are a distant memory for many of us, 1/4 of the universe is preparing for the 2021 Chinese New Year this week celebrating the beginning of the new Lunar calendar. Countries in Asia celebrating Lunar New Year include China, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. It’s also celebrated in Chinatowns and Asian homes around the world. The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is all about togetherness, family and a lot of FOOD! The Lunar New Year celebrations typically spark a rush of travel that the New York Times has called “the world’s largest annual human migration”. COVID restrictions will make this year’s festivities less of a migration but over a billion people in China and millions around the world will still celebrate from home.
Here are some fun food traditions, rules and superstitions to kick-start your Chinese New Year celebration:
The Reunion Feast
Lunar New Year's Eve, which falls on February 11 this year is celebrated by families with their own preferred dishes, but there are a set of non-negotiable dishes when it comes to a traditional New Year dinner:
A whole chicken- because it represents togetherness and rebirth. It's symbolic of the family and can also signify unity and prosperity as a group.
Fish- associated with luck as the Chinese word for it sounds like the word for “surplus”.
Dumplings- dumplings are made in the shape of China’s ancient money-ingots. People eat dumplings to wish good wealth in the new year. Legend has it that the more dumplings you eat during Spring Festival, the more money you can make in the new year. Challenge accepted.
Noodles- noodle soup or longevity noodles is also a tradition on New Year’s Day as the noodles are thought to bring good luck. Legend has it that the longer your noodle, the longer your life—just don’t bite it or break it while it’s cooking, or that signifies a life cut short. They can be served fried or boiled in broth, along with different meats and add-ins with different meanings.
Nian gao (glutinous rice cake)- it is considered good luck to eat nian gao because it has the symbolism of increasing prosperity every year.
Citrus- two of the most common food symbols of the Chinese New Year are tangerines and oranges. Whereas tangerines represent wealth, oranges are a popular symbol of good luck.
Lunar New Year Rule Book
There are some strict do and don’ts when it comes to lunar new year superstitions!
-Don’t wear black or white as they’re the colors of death. Wear red which is associated with luck and prosperity!
-You can’t take medicine on the day of the lunar new year as it might set you up for poor health for the whole year.
-You can’t take out the trash on the New Year’s Eve as it’s symbolic of throwing out all the good luck you’ve been fostering. (my boys would love to get ahold of this superstition to use year round!)
-No congee for breakfast on New Year’s Day as it’s the breakfast of peasants, and you’ll be poor for the year.
-If your children cry, it’s bad luck for you!
-Don’t wash your hair or clothes on New Year’s Day! In Chinese languages, hair has the same pronunciation (and uses the same character) as fa in facia which means 'to become wealthy'. Therefore, it is seen as washing away your fortune to wash your hair or put a load of laundry in.
I’m putting together our menu plan to create our LNY themed “reunion feast” this weekend and started thinking about my favorite street eats from the alley below our apartment building in Taipei. There are so many hidden gems of cultural heritage hidden through the streets and alleys of Taiwan! The scallion pancakes from an obscure little stall were my favorite. Freshly made to order, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Pulling apart the spirals of dough was part of the experience. The scallion pancake, also known as cong you bing, is a thin, unleavened fried pancake found all over China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Although the origins of scallion pancake are still not clear, most people believe that it originated in Shanghai, due to the fact that scallion pancakes are very similar to the Indian paratha flatbread. Because of its unique flavor and texture, scallion pancake is one of the most popular street food items in China and Taiwan.
Here is a scallion pancake “hack” that I just picked up from my new favorite Vegan/Chinese Instagram girl Lisa Kitahara. Follow her @okonomikitchen for so much food and culture inspiration! Her recipes are amazing, and you definitely don't have to be Vegan to love them.
Cheater Scallion Pancakes
Inspired by Lisa Kitahara
4 ingredients and only 15 minutes to make!
The “cheat” version is a genius hack using dumpling wrappers (the white ones without eggs) instead of making the dough from scratch. And, you can make these ahead and freeze on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Once frozen you can place in a freezer bag and remove/cook from frozen at a later time. Make extra, my kids love these!
Ingredients:
Dumpling wrappers (the square ones)
Scallions (or mix it up and use grated ginger and cilantro!)
Neutral oil (or Sesame oil if you want extra flavor)
Sea salt
How to:
Prep your work station by having everything ready: a bowl of oil and a brush, water, salt, finely sliced scallions and dumpling wrappers
-Take one dumpling wrapper and wet the edge of the left side with your fingers. Layer
the edge of another dumpling wrapper where you applied water and gently press down.
Repeat with one more to make a chain of 3.
-Brush the oil onto the dumpling wrappers, sprinkle with salt and the scallions (or ginger cilantro mixture).
-Roll up the dumpling wrappers (like a cinnamon roll). Don’t roll them too tightly or when you press down on it the dumpling wrapped may pop open.
-Place the roll seam side up and roll it into a spiral.
-Place it flat and wet the loose edge with some water. Gently press it against the main roll to prevent it from unraveling.
-Using the palm of your hands, flatten it to your desired thickness. If you like thinner pancakes, use a rolling pin and carefully roll it out.
-Repeat with as many as you want to make.
-Pan fry them over medium heat on each side until they get golden brown and crispy (about 4 minutes on the first side and 2-3 minutes on the other).
Enjoy with a dipping sauce:
Mix together-
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon finely sliced scallion greens
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons sugar or maple syrup
*If your game to try a slightly more labor intensive version of this snack I love this recipe from Serious Eats.
Cheers to a delicious Lunar New Year!