East and Southeast Asian communities worldwide are getting ready to observe the Lunar New Year, which is set for 17 February and will span across 15 days. Each year in the Chinese zodiac corresponds to an element within the cycle, and as we embrace the Year of the Fire Horse, this zodiac period signifies a time for significant life transformations, characterized by high-stakes endeavors, personal development, and a fast-paced lifestyle.
This particular zodiac year occurs only once every 60 years on the zodiac calendar, implying that for some individuals, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To commemorate the Year of the Fire Horse, we had a conversation with author Angela Hui, who expressed her fondness for the Lunar New Year, reminiscing about the cherished moments shared with loved ones and offering a delightful recipe that you can try at home.
Before you embark on preparing the recipe, why not craft your own fire horse through the traditional Chinese art of paper folding, provided by Tesco? Simply print the provided sheet and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
The Lunar New Year holds a special place in my heart. Often referred to as “Asian Christmas” among many families, it stands as the most significant holiday in the calendar year. It’s a time for family gatherings, paying respect to ancestors, and welcoming good luck.
One of the things I treasure the most about returning home is the opportunity to cook alongside my mother, who is a skilled chef. As cliché as it may sound, food serves as our primary means of communication. It’s how we connect with each other. When we cook together, time seems to fade away. We engage in casual conversations while folding dumplings or silently chopping vegetables side by side, resembling the comforting rhythm of the kitchen. Merely being in each other’s presence is fulfilling, often transcending the need for words.
Food plays a pivotal role in shaping our New Year celebrations. In Chinese tradition, it is customary to serve symbolic dishes that embody aspirations for the upcoming year. We eagerly delve into planning the family Lunar New Year menu days beforehand, exchanging recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes. “A whole steamed fish is a necessity,” my mother insists, citing the phrase “年年有余, leen leen yow yu.”
In Cantonese, the term for fish, yu, phonetically resembles the words for surplus and abundance, signifying the desire for prosperity year after year. “What about dumplings?” I propose. Dumplings symbolize wealth, with the belief that the more you consume, the wealthier you become, given their resemblance to ancient gold ingots. “We could prepare money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers,” I suggest.
We engage in a back-and-forth dialogue, meticulously planning until our conversation history is filled with voice notes, eventually settling on a selection of eight dishes symbolizing affluence, luck, and wholeness.
I’ve included my steamed fish recipe below for you to recreate at home. All the necessary ingredients to prepare this delectable dish can be obtained at Tesco.