The Ultimate Chinese New Year Dinner

Chinese New Year festivities for the year of the Ox kick off on Friday, February 12, 2021. Although the coronavirus pandemic means that there won't be the typical Lunar New Year festivals and parades that usually take place around the United States, it doesn't mean that you can't celebrate. One great way to mark the holiday is to order food from your local Chinese restaurants, which have suffered from increased rates of racism and a downturn in business throughout the pandemic. Or, if you're up for it, you can cook a delicious feast at home. Here are some meaningful and delicious Chinese New Year recipes to try.

How (and Why) to Celebrate Chinese New Year at Home

On the Chinese New Year's Eve, a traditional family activity is to prepare Chinese dumplings together. It is customary to sneak a coin into one of the dumplings, and one lucky person gets the dumpling with the coin, which means good luck for the rest of the year.

Click here to see the Pork and Chive Dumplings Recipe.

Dumplings are a traditional part of lunar new year festivities, and there are many ways to enjoy those pockets of delciousness. Homemade wonton soup is a cozy, warming way to incorporate dumplings into your meal.

For the Homemade Wonton Soup recipe, click here.

Noodles are typically consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration because they are a symbol of longevity. They should be eaten in one fell slurp, without breaking the noodle. And there are few better ways to get your noodle fill than with spicy Szechuan dan dan noodles. 

For the Dan Dan Noodles Recipe, click here.

Fish is said to signifying abundance and plenty, and whole fish in particular is believed to bring good luck to the new year. With this recipe, you can cook the fish whole or use fillets so take your pick.

For the Braised Fish with Sweet Ginger-Soy Sauce Recipe, click here.

Mapo tofu is a staple at some of the best Chinese restaurants in America, but you can make this spicy comfort food at home, too.

For the Mapo Tofu recipe, click here.

To finish off your Chinese New Year feast on a sweet note, try your hand at these egg tarts. These are popular across China and particularly in Hong Kong, and are fun and easy to make at home.

For the Chinese Egg Tarts recipe, click here.