It’s time to take down the Christmas tree, do some spring cleaning and hang up your auspicious lanterns because Chinese New Year is just around the corner! Like most cultural festivities in Malaysia, this celebration involves the gathering of family members to prepare and enjoy a hearty meal together.
In fact, some might say this dinner is the center of the whole celebration, bringing family together over a feast of prosperous and meaningful dishes. While ang pows can be collected throughout the 15-day of celebration, there’s only one major reunion dinner! It’s so significant that family members who live out of town and even overseas make the journey back home to enjoy the meal together.
Some families may choose to dine at a restaurant, while others choose to host it in their own home to make it a more intimate affair. If you’re the latter, and the responsibility of hosting the dinner falls on your shoulders, fret not – we have you covered.
We all know that the dishes served during Chinese New Year must be traditional yet meaningful. So, if you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few that you can consider:
Prosperity Yee Sang
A Chinese New Year meal is never complete without Yee Sang! This dish symbolizes good luck, abundance, and fortune.
It’s not that difficult to make your own Yee Sang, as the ingredients are widely available in most supermarkets and hypermarkets. Here’s a recipe to help get you started. Remember to pour the Hellmann’s Roasted Sesame dressing over the Yee Sang before it’s tossed for a greater taste!
Abundance & Prosperity Poon Choi
Poon Choi, which translates to “basin feast”, is a special Chinese New Year dish that is made of premium ingredients such as chicken, seafood and vegetables assembled in one pot. It is said to foster unity among the family as it is served as a communal dish, while the filled pot symbolizes abundance and prosperity.
Show off your culinary skills and prepare it at home using this recipe here.
Crispy Almond Prawns
Prawns are also an essential dish during this festivity as they symbolize a happy year ahead. This is because the pronunciation of prawns in Cantonese (har) resembles the sound of laughter.
There are plenty of ways to cook prawns, but deep-fried almond-crusted prawns are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Check out this recipe for some scrumptiously crispy prawns which are delicious served with Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise as a dipping sauce. Your family will ask for more of this tasty dish!