10 Lucky Food That Will Bring Good Fortune This Chinese New Year!

Celebrating Chinese New Year (CNY) is just one of the traditions that Filipinos and Fil-Chi (Filipino-Chinese) have adapted from Chinese culture. From eating Chinese foods, using of chopsticks, to believing in zodiac signs and horoscopes, we are already accustomed to the Chinese culture that has dramatically impacted and influenced our lives.

In the Philippines, the old Binondo Chinatown has been home to Chinese culture including rich cuisine and heritage, as well as dragon dancing. Every once a year, Fil-Chi and local tourists gather in the bustling place to celebrate the most important occasion for the Half-Chinese and Chinese people.

Also known as Lunar New Year, Spring Festival, or Lantern Festival, the Chinese New Year celebration lasts about 16 days every year with great food, performances, and traditions. Chinese belief has it told that the dishes served are not just for the special occasion but are also said to bring good fortune and a prosperous year.

With the Chinese New Year around the corner, we couldn’t help but also share with you about the lucky foods that you need to prepare for the celebration:

Glutinous rice (Nian Gao)

 

Translated as “new year” or “just cake,” Nian Gao is a glutinous rice flour cake wrapped in paper and commonly served on Chinese New Year’s Eve. In Chinese, glutinous rice cake is pronounced like "higher year” which makes the Nian Gao believed to be lucky. These sticky rice cakes are either sweet or savory, depending on the region it was prepared.

Whole Fish

Considered one of the important dishes in Chinese New Year, Fish symbolizes an increase in prosperity or abundance. According to Chinese traditions, fish should be the last dish served. It is said that leaving some scraps or leftovers will give you a surplus at the end of the year. are only some of the fish choices preferred or favored during the Spring Festival.

Poultry

Serving whole poultry, including its head to feet, symbolizes unity and wholeness. Typically cooked with simple ingredients such as ginger or soy, it is one of the most significant Chinese New Year dishes.

Dumplings (Jiao Zi)

Dumpling is a classic lucky food for Lantern Festival as it represents wealth or money. Chinese dumplings are meant to look like ingots, which are the gold and silver pieces used during ancient times. Chinese people say the more you eat dumplings during the new year, the more you’ll make money.

Sweet Rice Balls (Tangyuan)

Also made from sticky glutinous rice flour, sweet rice balls or tangyuan are often served on the last day of the Chinese New Year Celebration. The sticky rice balls can be filled with either sesame, red bean, or taro and the serving comes with a thin broth.

Longevity Noodles

 

Of course, it’s been well-known that noodles symbolize a wish for happiness and longevity. Normally the noodles are prepared uncut and long, or either fried or boiled. The noodles are prepared with gravy sauce or with broth.

Spring Rolls

 

We might love to eat spring rolls all year round, but for the Chinese New Year, they symbolize wealth. The crispy golden rolls represent bars of gold and the vegetables in the spring rolls signify renewal, energy, progress, and harmony. Among these vegetables that are said to be lucky are lettuce, bok choy, and broccoli.

Shop our E&L Frozen Broccoli for only P180/500g here. 

Eight Treasure Rice

Call it Lucky 8, but Eight Treasure Rice will bring you sweetness in life! A traditional dish made with sticky rice, and fillings including lotus seeds, candied winter melon, shelled sunflower seeds, longan, red dates, kumquat, honey cherries, and pearl barleys. This dessert symbolizes marriage, family reunion, healthy birth of a baby, harmlessness, prosperity, happiness, and longevity.

Prosperity Cakes

 

Steamed rice flour cakes are called to be prosperity cakes as they may bring luck in the new year. Tradition has it that the more segments or split tops your cupcakes have, the luckier you’ll get. These pinoy looking puto  are also said to bring happiness and good fortune.

 

Which among these Chinese foods are your favorite or you’re going to try this Chinese New Year? Level up your handa this Chinese New Year by shopping safe and premium-quality frozen good products at shop.enlfood.com!