To celebrate the Year of the Rooster, I have curated my tastiest Chinese recipes in this post. Now, my experience cooking Chinese foods has not been that extensive, but I have nailed these recipes. They key to cooking these foods is to have the right ingredients. I go to Asian grocery stores (such as TNT Supermarket) to get the freshest and most authentic ingredients and it definitely pays off. Plus, I often discover new ingredients are am inspired to cook new dishes.
These appetizer and main course recipes were inspired from my visits to these grocery stores and are a great way to ring in the new year. Let the celebrations begin!
Pork and Chive Potstickers
These Pork and Chive Potstickers are the perfect appetizer for the New Year. In Chinese culture, potstickers are traditionally eaten on Chinese New Year as they symbolize wealth. These delicious little bundles are stuffed with pork, chive, and cabbage and are fried and steamed and fried again to create crisp yet juicy bites. Now, these potstickers do take a while to make, but this is great recipe to make in advance (and freeze) or on the big day with your friends and family. While it is a time-consuming appetizer to make (and are consumed in seconds), all this hard work is definitely worth it once you take a bite!
See the recipe for Pork and Chive Potstickers here!
Baked Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
Spring rolls are another appetizer that are traditionally eaten on Chinese New Year as it also symbolizes wealth. Traditionally, spring rolls are fried rather than baked…but I put a great healthy twist on the original recipe. Added bonus: these are vegetarian so you can feel extra good about eating them!
See the recipe for Baked Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce here!
Vegetable Lo Mein
Noodle dishes are a guaranteed to be on the dinner table on Chinese New Year as noodles symbolize longevity and happiness. There are many different types of noodles and hundreds of dishes that can be made from them, but this recipe for Vegetable Lo Mein is quick and easy. The longest and most labour intensive part of this dish is chopping veggies- which takes under 10 minutes. Toss the veggies in the pan with the noodles and sauce and you’ve got a delicious dish on the table in 20 minutes!
See the recipe for Vegetable Lo Mein here!
Spicy Eggplant Stir Fry
As I mentioned before, the key to pulling off these recipes is to buy authentic ingredients. This holds especially true for this Spicy Eggplant Stir-Fry. In this recipe, you need to buy ingredients that are relatively uncommon in regular grocery stores including Japanese eggplants, black bean paste and whole dried red chilis. While it may warrant an extra trip, it is definitely worth it!
See the recipe for Spicy Eggplant Stir-Fry here!
Sesame Chicken
While Sesame Chicken is certainly not a traditional Chinese dish, it always comes to mind when I think of Chinese food. Sesame Chicken is an Asian-American dish that was invented in North America and still appears on Chinese take-out menus to this day. Why, you ask? Because it is damn delicious! Tender pieces of chicken are breaded, fried and topped with a sweet sauce- I mean, what’s not to love?
See the recipe for Sesame Chicken here!
I hope that you enjoy all these recipes with your friends and family this Chinese New Year. Gong hay fat choy!
