Every year when Chinese New Year gets closer, the family hometown is exceptionally lively and cheery as family members return for their Reunion Dinner. There is no excuse for everyone especially for workaholics as they have to put work aside and reunite with the siblings and relatives to usher in the prosperous Chinese New Year. But if there’s one thing the workaholics look forward the most on Chinese New Year’s Eve, it’s the hometown dishes they hadn’t had a chance to taste again. It takes time to prepare all the dishes for Reunion Dinner but at least everyone is grateful to taste the homemade dishes again instead of dining out. Although it’s a tedious job to plan for reunion dinner but we’ve put together 8 must-have dishes in the menu of reunion dinner for you!
1. Yu Sheng
A reunion dinner wouldn’t be complete without Yu Sheng/Yee Sang as it is a symbol of prosperity and good health among the Chinese. Yu Sheng is mostly available in restaurants and it consists of various ingredients which usually already prepared in the package. It is believed the higher you toss the Yu Shang into the air, the more the luck will come to you.
2. Buddha’s Delight
Also known as “Luo Han Zhai”, this dish is a vegetarian dish consists of various kind of vegetables and bean curd skin. It’s easy to prepare and a healthy yet delicious dish as compared other meat dishes.
3. Longevity Noodles
The longevity noodles are usually served during Chinese New Year as it symbolizes long life. However, it is important to note that the noodles must be uncut because cutting it is considered as an insult and shorten the life. You can cook the longevity noodles which ever way you like but the most popular would be stir-fry it with vegetables and meat.
4. Braised Mushrooms and Abalones
Abalones are usually served with mushrooms together and it is one of luxurious food Chinese people indulged in because abalone signifies auspiciousness. Hence, the braised mushrooms and abalones only make their presence during Chinese New Year.
5. Stir-fried Leeks
Stir-fried leeks is believed to an auspicious dish as it symbolizes good wealth and fortune. The word “leeks” is pronounced as “suan” in Mandarin that sounds similar to the counting in Mandarin. To prepare the dish, the leeks are served as the base ingredient with other ingredients such as tofu or any non-leafy vegetables.
6. Steamed Fish with Black Bean Sauce
Fish in Mandarin is pronounced as “yu” which sounds similar to “plenty”. Hence, fish is a must-have dishes during Chinese New Year as it signifies abundance of wealth during Chinese New Year. The most popular way of preparing this dish is steaming the whole fish and finish it off with black bean sauce.
7. Steamboat
Steamboat dinner is the most easiest way to prepare a reunion dinner as all family members gather around a hot pot of steaming soup and put the uncooked food in the soup. It’s one of the most popular way Chinese families celebrate Chinese New Year Eve as all they need to prepare is just the soup and the uncooked food.
8. Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Ball)
Tang Yuan is one of the most popular Chinese desserts during Chinese New Year as the word “Tang Yuan” sounds similar to unity in Mandarin “Tuan Yuan”. Hence, it is usually eaten together with family as it symbolizes family unity.
What are you most excited to indulge in this Chinese New Year? Share with us in our Forum.
