11 Chinese New Year Foods to Eat for Good Luck
If you’re looking to learn more about celebrating the Lunar New Year, it's crucial to find out more about traditional Chinese New Year foods.
Chinese New Year foods vary across different regions and from family to family, but the norm with Lunar New Year foods is their symbolism, thought and preparation, all of which help welcome in a new season of life.
The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China, according to HISTORY. The 16-day celebration is a time to honor sacred deities as well as the family's ancestors. It's also a time to gather together for a celebration centered around feasting on delicious dishes.
No matter your background or culture, you too can celebrate the new year with these 11 traditional Chinese New Year foods, including dumplings, fresh fruit, spring rolls and more.
Jump to Section
- Dumplings
- Fish
- Whole Chicken
- Sweet Rice Balls
- Fresh Fruit
- Spring Rolls
- Noodles
- Wontons
- Golden Prawns
- Mushrooms
- Jujube
- Learn to Make Traditional Chinese New Year Food
1. Dumplings
Dumplings are a staple of traditional Chinese cuisine and are a popular dish to serve at Lunar New Year. These savory treats, which can be pan-fried or boiled, are part of the Lunar New Year feast because they are believed to represent wealth and prosperity for the upcoming year.
Making this Chinese New Year food with others is as much a part of the experience as eating it, allowing families or other close groups to bond and look forward to the year ahead together.
Best of all, dumplings can be made to suit any taste and are often filled with pork, chicken, shrimp or vegetables. This classic lucky Chinese New Year food is a hit on any table and can also be served with a variety of dipping sauces to add an extra layer of flavor.
While making dumplings from scratch is traditional for Chinese New Year, you could also pick up some of the best frozen dumplings if you want to get a taste of this Lunar New Year food in a convenient way. Ordering from your local Chinese restaurant is another great choice.
2. Fish
Fish prepared whole is a dish seen at most traditional Lunar New Year feasts, symbolizing prosperity and abundance. Interestingly, the word for fish, "yu," has a similar pronunciation to the word for abundance, adding an extra layer of meaning to this Chinese New Year food tradition, as further explained by NBC.
The fish is usually steamed and served with soy sauce or a light glaze. However, you can also spice up the traditional Chinese New Year celebration by trying different cooking methods and flavors, such as cooking the fish with hot chiles.
Just remember to always bring the fish to the table whole to make the most of this Lunar New Year food tradition.
3. Whole Chicken
Chicken served whole is a traditional Chinese New Year food that symbolizes unity and wholeness.
Presenting the chicken whole is also a representation of a family coming together to feast on this comfort dish. Many also believe it helps bring luck for the year ahead.
In terms of how it's cooked, the chicken is typically braised or roasted with simple ingredients such as ginger or soy.
4. Sweet Rice Balls
Packed with sweet or savory flavors, rice balls are often served toward the end of the Chinese New Year.
Known as tangyuan, which is a homophone for the Chinese word for "union," these traditional Chinese New Year foods can be unfilled or filled. Popular fillings include sesame or bean paste.
They are often served in a hot broth or syrup as well, creating one of the most flavorful Chinese New Year dishes.
5. Fresh Fruit
Those looking to celebrate in an easy and convenient way will be pleased to learn that traditional Chinese New Year foods need not be complicated.
Incorporating citrus fruits such as tangerines or oranges is one of many ways to bring luck for the year ahead. In fact, as TIME explains, oranges have been included as part of Chinese New Year celebrations since at least the Qing dynasty.
The fruits are typically served at the end of a meal as a sign of good fortune. Interestingly, they are also used to spread luck when given as gifts.
6. Spring Rolls
Spring rolls grace tables year-round, but these lucky Chinese New Year foods are also enjoyed for the holiday as a token of wealth. Best of all, spring rolls are easy to assemble if you want to add them to your Chinese New Year food spread.
Simply take wonton wrappers and fill them with anything from fresh vegetables, such as bean sprouts or cabbage, to heartier fillings such as meat for the likes of pork spring rolls.
7. Noodles
"Longevity" noodles are a traditional Chinese New Year food served as a symbol of longevity in life. Traditionally, the noodles are prepared as one continuous strand, signifying a long life ahead. Like many Chinese New Year foods, they are also believed to bring good luck.
Longevity noodles are not only served as a traditional Lunar New Year food but also on special occasions such as birthdays. In fact, noodles are a Chinese staple all year round, and you've likely seen many noodle options listed at your favorite Chinese restaurant chain.
Whatever your preference between chow mein vs. lo mein, adding dishes like vegetable lo mein to your meal rotation is a fantastic way to add flair to your kitchen repertoire during the Chinese New Year and any other time of the year!
8. Wontons
Similar to dumplings, wontons are a popular traditional Chinese New Year food symbolizing wealth and prosperity in the year to come. Wontons can also be eaten as a lucky food during the New Year celebration, seen as a wish for a good start to the year.
These savory pouches are versatile and can be filled with any mixture of vegetables and meats. Like with spring rolls, they can be paired with some flavorful dipping sauces as well.
9. Golden Prawns
Another tasty traditional Chinese New Year food is golden prawns. Also served for reunions and other celebratory gatherings, the prawns are lightly fried and paired with a glaze of soy sauce, green onions, ginger and garlic.
Served family-style, golden prawns are a light, bright addition to a meal and another great example of a lucky Chinese New Year food.
10. Mushrooms
Savory Chinese New Year foods don't always have to incorporate meat and fish. There are options for vegetarians at the table as well.
Simply sautéed with soy sauce (or your favorite soy sauce substitute), mushrooms are another hearty and traditional Chinese Lunar New Year food that will add a new layer of flavor and texture to your Chinese New Year food spread.
11. Jujube
Jujube is a delightful traditional Chinese New Year food to add to your feast. These sweet morsels, also known as Chinese dates or plums, add a tasty punch to any celebratory gathering.
The fruits are said to be eaten as a traditional Lunar New Year food due to their red color, which is considered a symbol of prosperity and happiness.
Jujube fruits may not be easily found in every grocery store, but they can be ordered online or may be available in Chinese supermarkets.
Learn To Make Traditional Chinese New Year Foods
If you’re looking to expand your recipe repertoire, consider making your own traditional Chinese New Year foods. If you need a little help learning how to make these types of dishes, turn to cooking classes near you.
In these professional chef-led sessions, you'll learn how to cook a variety of dishes, including some of the foods for Lunar New Year that are featured in this guide. Whether that be sessions in Atlanta, Los Angeles or anywhere else across the U.S. and beyond, there's a wealth of cooking knowledge to uncover.
If you want to make some traditional Lunar New Year foods but don't have time for an in-person class, you can also find chef-led online Chinese cooking classes that can be joined from the comfort of home.
If there's one common theme among cultures and families across the world, it's the celebration of life and the renewal of time and seasons.
Much like New Year’s celebrations in the western world, the Chinese or Lunar New Year is also a celebration of parting with the past and looking forward to a new year of prosperity, hope and growth.
Dating back for centuries, traditional Chinese New Year foods have helped families reinforce their bonds and set forth upon the days ahead with a sense of optimism, luck and prosperity. With this guide in hand, you can also serve up some delicious CNY foods and get a taste of the New Year in a different culture.
For even more fun ways to celebrate the holidays, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
