East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to observe the Lunar New Year, which is set for 17 February this year and spans 15 days. Each Chinese zodiac year aligns with an element in the cycle. Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse signifies potential for significant life transformations. This zodiac year symbolizes intense action, personal development, and a heightened pace of living.
Given that it occurs only once every 60 years in the zodiac calendar, some individuals may not witness it again in their lifetime. To commemorate the Year of the Fire Horse, we had a conversation with author Angela Hui, who enthusiastically shared her affection for Lunar New Year and the cherished moments spent with loved ones. Additionally, she provided a delightful recipe for a homemade dish.
Before delving into the culinary experience, why not create your own fire horse through the traditional art of Chinese paper folding, courtesy of Tesco? Simply utilize the provided sheet and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
Lunar New Year holds a special place as one of the most significant occasions, often termed “Asian Christmas” by many families, marking the most celebrated holiday in the calendar. It serves as a time for family gatherings, paying respects to ancestors, and inviting in good luck.
One of the highlights for me during this festive season is cooking alongside my talented chef mother. Despite the cliché, food serves as our primary mode of communication. Engaged in meal preparation, time seems to fade away. As we chat like old friends while crafting dumplings or quietly chopping vegetables side by side, there is a comforting rhythm in the kitchen that requires no words—just the presence of one another.
Food plays a pivotal role in shaping our celebration plans. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic foods signifies aspirations for the upcoming year. Days in advance, my mother and I eagerly discuss and exchange recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes for our family Lunar New Year menu. “We must have whole steamed fish,” my mother insists, citing the Chinese phrase “年年有余, leen leen yow yu,” symbolizing abundance and prosperity for each year.
Prompting the discussion further, I suggest dumplings as they represent wealth, with the belief that consuming more will lead to increased prosperity, given their resemblance to ancient gold ingots. “Why not try money bag dumplings with cabbage wrappers?” I propose. Back and forth we go, meticulously planning until we settle on eight dishes symbolizing wealth, luck, and completeness.
Below, I share my steamed fish recipe for you to recreate at home. All the necessary ingredients for this delectable dish can be conveniently sourced from Tesco.