Happiness is Perfectly Golden Brown Bread
Wake up to the heavenly smell of freshly-toasted bread. 🥰
8 Must Have Chinese New Year Recipes for a Lucky Year 2022
Looking for recipe inspiration this Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year officially starts on Febuary 1, 2022 and it marks the transition between the Chinese Zodiac signs.
Now we're headed into 2022, the Year of the Tiger. Festivities begin on Feb 1st and run through Feb 15th, 2022 when the Lantern Festival starts, and traditionally includes getting together with family and kicking things off with a big meal on Chinese New Year Eve.
Now we're headed into 2022, the Year of the Tiger. Festivities begin on Feb 1st and run through Feb 15th, 2022 when the Lantern Festival starts, and traditionally includes getting together with family and kicking things off with a big meal on Chinese New Year Eve.
What to eat for Chinese New Year - Lucky Foods
To help celebrate, it's common see the gifting of lucky Red Envelopes and to eat foods symbolic of the Lunar New Year. These dishes are served to give blessings and are auspicious as to provide prosperity, luck and happiness in the coming new year.
To help celebrate, it's common see the gifting of lucky Red Envelopes and to eat foods symbolic of the Lunar New Year. These dishes are served to give blessings and are auspicious as to provide prosperity, luck and happiness in the coming new year.
1. Chinese New Year Cake (Sweet Rice Cake)
A must have! Niangao is a very traditional sweet dessert made from sticky rice, the name of this cake (年糕 Niángāo) translates to mean "higher year" symbolizing increasing property. Steamed, then served as is, or lightly pan fried, this dish tastes like warm sweet mochi. Steam your own niangao at home with 3 simple ingrediets and this recipe.
2. Pork & Leek Potstickers
Potstickers or dumplings are considered lucky for wealth as they are shaped similar to gold sycees. You can think of these as representing pockets of money, so it's good to have lots of potstickers during Chinese New Year.
3. Traditional Whole Steamed Fish
Symbolic for a good year from start to finish, it's important to serve the fish whole (the fish head to tail which symbolizes the start of the year to end of the year). This fish recipe also makes for an impressive table presentation but is surprisingly simple and easy to cook with a short steaming time of around 15 minutes. Plus, you'll love the flavors of the ginger and cilantro.4. Whole Chicken
Similar to the fish, the whole chicken represents unity and family. Usually it's served whole with the head and feet included, but unless you go to an Asian grocery store, these types of chickens are hard to find.
5. Longevity Noodles
5. Longevity Noodles
Noodle dishes are often served during Chinese New Year as long noodles respresent longevity in life. As such, it's best to serve long noodles and take care not to cut or damage the noodles when cooking. For a delicious and savory noodle dish, try my Pan-Fried Soy Sauce Noodles using egg noodles which tend to hold up nicely in cooking.6. Shanghai Rice Cakes Stir Fry (Savory Rice Cakes)
Similar to the sweet version of my Chinese New Year cakes dessert recipe, these oval cakes (年糕 Niángāo) are also made from sticky rice. Stir-fried with cabbage and your favorite meat or seafood, this savory dish takes less than 10 minutes to cook and will ensure you have a more prosperous "higher year".
7. Traditional Chinese Almond Cookies
Do you remember eating these when you were young? Since these Chinese Almond cookies are circular and baked in the shape of a coin, it symbolizes good monetary fortune. Plus it's a sweet dessert which counts having a sweet year! How do they taste? Simply put, the store bought versions are nothing like the taste of my recipe for these homemade ones. So buttery and flavorful, you won't be able to eat just one!
8. Hot Pot
Hot Pot is one of the favorite family style dinners and also great for family gatherings like Chinese New Year. With a pot of hot boiling soup broth in the center of the table and raw ingredients like sliced meats, seafood and vegetables off to the side, this meal is interactive and fun!The ingredients can be dipped in savory or sweet sauces, or even eaten plain! The best thing about this meal is that everyone can cook and eat the ingredients they like. For extra fortune and luck, shop and prepare for these suggested items to add to your soup:
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Mushrooms: Increased Opportunities
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Noodles: Long Life
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Dumplings: Wealth and Fortune
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Meatballs/ Fishballs: Reunion
This article is brought to you by ANGEL WONG'S KITCHEN.
Shop with us for kitchen appliances at: www.esh2u.com.
Tips to Clean Your Oven after Holiday Cooking.
You’ll need these genius tips to clean your oven after all the turkey and chicken roasting for Christmas.
Save this post as a reminder! 😉
Love these tips?
Love these tips?
Don't hesitate to note down as it may be very useful after preparing foods for your loved ones.
Check out our oven selections on website: www.esh2u.com
Check out our oven selections on website: www.esh2u.com
How to bake a Rich Chocolate Cake with Tefal Home Chef Smart Multicooker
There's no better way to complete your X'mas meal than with a luxurious chocolate flavoured dessert.
Just gather the ingredients and pop them into a multicooker.
Try out this recipe and let us know how good it is!
Gather your loved ones during this festive time and enjoy the precious moment while eating this delicious chocolate cake.
Just in case you need a multicooker, shop for one on our store at www.esh2u.com.
How to choose between Hand Mixer & Stand Mixer
A game battle? 👾 Yes, choosing between a hand mixer and a stand mixer can be difficult. It's just like choosing for the one and only game character in your games.
Rule No.1 - Always know your needs & you'll be able to pick the right mixer.
Learn more: https://www.esh2u.com/apps/omega-search/?type=product&q=mixer
Mooncake Recipe
Prep Time:
2 hrs
Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 20 mins
Traditional Baked Mooncakes filled with sesame seed or red bean paste and salted egg yolk. A must-have for the Mooncake/Mid-Autumn Festival.
(Makes 12 mooncakes)
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 24
Calories: 330 kcal
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup golden syrup (180ml)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (80ml)
- 1 tsp alkaline water (5ml)
- 2½ cups cake flour or all-purpose flour (340g)
- 1 tbsp egg yolk mixed with 1 water for egg wash
- ¼ cup mooncake glaze (4 tbsp)
Filling:
- 12 salted egg yolks or however many you prefer, optional
- 1 tsp Shao Hsing cooking wine (1 tsp for every 4 salted egg yolks)
- 17.6 oz lotus seed paste (500g)
- 17.6 oz red bean paste (500g)
- 2 oz toasted kuachi / melon seeds or sunflower seeds (56g)
Instructions:
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You will also need a 125g mooncake mold.
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Combine golden syrup, canola oil, and alkaline water in a small bowl or measuring cup.
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Sift cake flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Pour syrup mixture into well and mix with a spatula to form a soft dough. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes.
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Place salted egg yolks in a small dish. Drizzle Shao Hsing rice wine over the egg yolks. Cover with aluminum foil and steam for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from steamer and pat dry egg yolks with paper towels and allow them to cool completely.
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Mix 1 oz (28g) toasted kuachi/sunflower seeds into the lotus seed paste and the 1 oz (28g) into the red bean paste. Form into 12 balls of approximately 90g each. If you are using salted egg yolks, then the lotus seed or red bean paste should be about 80g each. Flatten the ball and wrap the cooked salted egg yolk in the middle. Roll between your palms to form a ball.
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Lightly dust working surface with cake flour. Knead dough until smooth adding a little cake flour if necessary. Divide into 12 portions of 35g to 40g each.
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Take a portion of the dough and pat into a circle of about 4 inches (10cm). Wrap the dough over a ball of filling. Roll between your two palms to smoothen.
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Dust mooncake mold with cake flour. Place the ball of dough and filling in the mold. Flatten to conform to the shape of the mold.
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Place mold onto a parchment lined tray and carefully press spring stamp down to get a nice pattern on the top. Gently and carefully lift the mold to release the mooncake onto the tray. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
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Bake in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow mooncakes to cool for 5 minutes. Brush mooncakes all over with egg wash and return to oven for another 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
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Remove from oven and brush on some mooncake glaze just on the top of mooncakes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Store in airtight containers for one to two days before serving.