East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to observe the Lunar New Year festivities, commencing on 17 February and lasting for 15 days. Each year in the Chinese zodiac is linked to an element, and as we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, this cycle signifies a period conducive to significant life transformations. It symbolizes engaging in high-stakes endeavors, personal development, and a heightened pace of living.
Given that this occurrence only happens once every 60 years in the zodiac cycle, some individuals may not experience it again in their lifetime. To mark the Year of the Fire Horse, author Angela Hui shares her affection for the Lunar New Year, reminiscing about cherished moments spent with loved ones and offering a delightful recipe for home preparation.
Before delving into the kitchen, why not create your own fire horse through the ancient Chinese art of paper folding, courtesy of Tesco? Simply print out the provided template and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
The Lunar New Year holds a special place as a significant occasion, often referred to as “Asian Christmas,” where families come together to celebrate the most significant holiday in the calendar. It is a time for family reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and welcoming good fortune.
One of the highlights of returning home is the opportunity to cook alongside my mother, who is a skilled chef. Our bond is deeply intertwined with food, which serves as our primary means of communication. Cooking together creates a timeless experience where we engage in casual chatter while crafting dumplings or silently preparing ingredients side by side. The unspoken rhythm of the kitchen brings a sense of comfort, where mere presence suffices, often rendering words unnecessary.
Food plays a pivotal role in shaping our New Year celebration plans. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes is customary to signify aspirations for the upcoming year. Engrossed in planning our family’s Lunar New Year menu well in advance, we exchange recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes. “A whole steamed fish is essential,” my mother insists, referencing the auspicious phrase “年年有余, leen leen yow yu.”
In Cantonese, the word for fish, “yu,” phonetically resembles terms for surplus and abundance, symbolizing wishes for prosperity in the years ahead. “What about dumplings?” I suggest, noting their representation of wealth, believed to bring increased prosperity with each bite due to their resemblance to ancient gold ingots.
Proposing the idea of crafting money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers, our discussions continue until we settle on a menu comprising eight dishes symbolizing prosperity, luck, and completeness. Below, I share the recipe for steamed fish, a dish that embodies the essence of the Lunar New Year and can be effortlessly prepared using ingredients available at Tesco.
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While this year heralds a period of dynamic change, offering fresh opportunities, personal growth, and an accelerated pace of life, the Lunar New Year serves as a gentle reminder to pause, cherish moments with family, bid farewell to the old year, welcome prosperity for the new one, and perhaps, make space for that extra stomach capacity.