Introduction

This is a good time for families and friends to sit together, listen to some beautiful stories, and of course, stuff ourselves with yummy food. To add more spice to this celebration why not prepare some special Chinese New Year delicacies that your guests will enjoy. In this article a number of delicious appetizing dishes and snacks that would certainly make everyone take a second look would be recommended for this prosperous season.

1. Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake)

Another popular dessert which is usually eaten at Chinese New Year is Nian Gao because it is associated with success or the uplifting of something up; thereby implying growth and prosperity as well as a sweet or ‘sweet’ new year. Known by its Indonesian name Kue Talam, this sweet dessert is made from glutinous rice flour and can come with toppings such as red bean, green tea and even durian. They can be prepared in many ways including the usual fritters, steam and even baked oven. A good presentation can be the preparation of it in cubes then coating it with crushed peanuts for additional texture.

2. Yee Sang also known as Prosperity Toss Salad

Yee Sang is a delicious and colourful appetizing stir fried vegetable and raw fish usually salmon or tun footwear. It is passed over the head of people and it is thrown up into the air to mark the beginning of the New Year’s blessings. Accompany this salad with plum sauce sweetened with sugar and a squeeze of lime juice. To add some variability and make the seafood dish even tastier, add yam or jellyfish to the list of products to be used.

3. Bitter cassia filled balls or Lotus Seed Paste Balls (Lotus Lian)

Lotus Seed Paste Balls or lotus lian is one of the variety of dim sum products that portrays tad sweetness, wealth, and joy in Chinese perception. Described as pastries which are lotus seed paste filled, to be precise, they are buns of soft and smooth skin encompassing sweet, creamy and delicate paste fillings. For another more spectacular presentation, you could serve them in cute hollow pastry cases that are brightly colored garnished with red bean paste or any fruit jam of your choice. These tasty dishes will not only impress your guest, but they are eye-catching desserts as well.

4. The sweet rice dumplings or Tang Yuan

Other traditional and widely enjoyed treats during the Chinese New Year is Tang Yuan or sweet rice dumplings. These are typically small balls made out of sticky rice flour and can come with sweetings such as black sesame paste or red bean paste or even chocoalte. For the classier presentation, put them in small individual petite dipping bowls accompanied by special tasting sauces like pandan coconut, osmanthus honey, or matcha green tea. This scrumptious delight is the ideal choice for those who would like something that is more of the New Year style.

5. Pineapple Tarts

The specific dish which is pineapple tarts is consider to be one of the most favorite Chinese New Year snacks. Quite delicious, these treats are characterized by a buttery, flaky pastry stuffed with delightfully carmelized pineapple jam. If it comes to pineapple tarts the usual traditional recipe never fails but why not try different fruit fillings other than pineapple such as mango or passionfruit for added colors and taste. If you want to make it a little more contemporary, you can shape the tarts into cute animals or even better, to shapes associated with good luck like pig or bats.

6. Egg Rolls

Egg rolls or leong fun are rolls of crepes sort of like rolled pancakes that contains filling such as shrimp, char siu pork or vegetables. Of course, it is possible always serve traditional egg rolls with different meat fillings, but why not try some more exotic ones such as duck confit, lobster or truffle fillings. But if wanted to make something really beautiful, try decor with Gold or Silver leaf for a really stunning effect. The green tea matcha and raspberry royale oh so divine rolls are perfect and will impress any guest.

7. Pockmarked Grandma's Pomelos

Pomelos are considered as a kind of fruit in Chinese New Year presents as it signifies the meaning of richness. For a twist, why not try pomelo as the sweet component of a pomelo salad tossed in the salty, sour fish sauce and lime juice dressing which is garnished with crushed peanuts. Another possibility is to add some fragrances of flowers, for instance, jasmine or osmanthus to the pomelo juiced – an unforgettable tasty and fragrant drink for the new year celebration.

8. Sesame Seed Balls

Sesame seed balls are another delicious snack that also deserves attention to reveal the potential of Chinese cuisine. These balls are prepared by using glutinous rice flour and sesame seeds and include a centre of sweet red bean paste or meat. A perfectly fitting first course is when they are served with a sauce made of honey warmed and garnished with pine nuts. As a matter of fact this dish is very simple though exquisite and you can be sure that your guests will always remember the meal.

Conclusion

Gladly, with bountiful choices of delicious Chinese New Year goodies and fancy dishes from which to pick, your feast preparation is not as hard as reciting the Chinese calendar and can easily make an impressive and memorable Chinese New Year reception that appears professional, warm and obsessive your friends or other visitors have to like. What might be interesting in the inventiveness of recipes for using them very creatively, you can offer your near and dear ones an exquisite spread, which not just totally satisfies the palate, but one that we are sure they haven’t been lucky enough to taste before ,not to mention, come across something that has brought luck and prosperity into their lives. So, do not be too quick to stick to the regular Chinese New Year treats but go ahead and plan a meal your family and friends will always recall for the rest of their lives.