East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to observe the Lunar New Year, which is scheduled for 17 February and extends over 15 days. Each year in the Chinese zodiac is linked to an element within the cycle. As we usher in the Year of the Fire Horse, this zodiac period signifies a time for significant life alterations, characterized by intense action, personal development, and a heightened pace of living.
Given that this occurrence only repeats every 60 years on the zodiac calendar, some individuals may not encounter it again in their lifetime. In celebration of the Year of the Fire Horse, insights were shared by author Angela Hui, who expressed her affection for the Lunar New Year and the cherished moments shared with loved ones, along with a delightful recipe for home cooking.
Before embarking on culinary adventures, why not try crafting your own fire horse using the Chinese art of paper folding, provided by Tesco? Simply print the sheet below and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
The Lunar New Year, often dubbed “Asian Christmas” by many families, stands as the most significant holiday in the calendar, symbolizing family reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and welcoming good fortune.
One of the highlights for me during this period is the opportunity to cook alongside my chef mother. Food, as clichéd as it may sound, serves as our means of communication. When we cook together, time seems to fade away. Engaged in tasks like pleating dumplings or silently chopping vegetables side by side, we engage in auntie-like gossip. There’s a comforting rhythm in the unspoken bond of the kitchen; sometimes, words are unnecessary, and just being in each other’s presence suffices.
Food plays a crucial role in shaping our celebration plans. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes signifies hopes for the forthcoming year. In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, we enthusiastically exchange recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes. “Whole steamed fish is essential,” my mother asserts: “年年有余, leen leen yow yu.”
In Cantonese, the term for fish, yu, phonetically resembles the words for surplus and abundance, symbolizing the wish for prosperity year after year. “What about dumplings?” I propose. Dumplings connote wealth, and the more consumed, the wealthier one is believed to become, owing to their resemblance to ancient gold ingots.
“We could make money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers,” I suggest. Our exchange continues until we finalize eight dishes representing prosperity, luck, and completeness.
Below, I’ve shared my steamed fish recipe for you to recreate at home. All necessary ingredients for this delectable dish can be procured at Tesco.