East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to observe the Lunar New Year, set on 17 February and spanning 15 days this year. Each year in the Chinese zodiac corresponds to an element within the cycle. Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse signifies a period conducive to significant life alterations, embodying high-stakes action, personal development, and a dynamic pace of living.
This zodiac year only occurs once every 60 years, making it a rare occurrence that some may not witness again in their lifetime. In celebration of the Year of the Fire Horse, we had a conversation with author Angela Hui, who shared her affection for Lunar New Year and cherished moments spent with loved ones, alongside an appetizing recipe for you to try at home.
Before you venture into the kitchen to experiment, why not craft your own fire horse using the Chinese art of paper folding, provided by Tesco? Simply print the template and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
Lunar New Year, often dubbed “Asian Christmas,” holds great significance for many families, marking the most prominent holiday in the calendar. It serves as a time for family reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and inviting good fortune.
One of the highlights of returning home is the opportunity to cook with my mother, who is a chef. Despite its cliché nature, food acts as our primary means of communication. When we cook together, time seems to fade away. Engaging in casual chatter while folding dumplings or silently chopping vegetables side by side evokes a comforting and unspoken kitchen rhythm. Merely being in each other’s presence suffices, as words become unnecessary.
Food not only influences our celebration plans but also plays a crucial role in Chinese culture, where serving symbolic dishes symbolizes hopes for the forthcoming year. Engrossed in planning the family Lunar New Year menu days ahead, we exchange recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes. “A whole steamed fish is indispensable,” my mother insists, citing the Chinese saying “年年有余, leen leen yow yu,” which signifies wishes for prosperity year after year.
Prompted by my inquiry about dumplings, symbolizing wealth and promising increased riches with each bite due to their resemblance to ancient gold ingots, we explore crafting money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers. Our discussions lead us to select eight dishes symbolizing prosperity, luck, and completeness, culminating in a meticulously planned Lunar New Year feast.
Below, I’ve shared my steamed fish recipe for you to recreate at home using ingredients readily available at Tesco. Enjoy this delectable meal with white jasmine rice and optional pak choi or choi sum for a complete Lunar New Year experience.
[Continue with the ingredients and instructions as provided in the original article.]
While the Year of the Fire Horse signals a period of transformative change, fresh opportunities, personal growth, and a faster pace of life, the Lunar New Year also serves as a gentle reminder to pause, reconnect with family, bid farewell to the old year, welcome prosperity for the new one, and make room for indulging in delicious food and shared moments.