{"id":29998,"date":"2020-01-10T18:58:04","date_gmt":"2020-01-11T02:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=29998"},"modified":"2021-02-11T08:42:42","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T16:42:42","slug":"chinese-new-year-foods-for-2020-year-of-the-rat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/chinese-new-year-foods-for-2020-year-of-the-rat\/","title":{"rendered":"Traditional Chinese New Year Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Source: Happy New Year Diary<\/p><\/div>\n

Traditional Chinese New Year foods include whole fish, dumplings, noodles, chicken, spring rolls, fruit, and glutinous rice cake. Chinese New Year 2020 begins on Saturday, January 25, 2020 and preparations for the two-week celebration are in full swing all over the world. Many traditions surround Chinese New Year including cleaning your house to rid it of bad spirits and eating certain foods because of their symbolic meanings, based on their names or appearance.<\/p>\n

Edited 2\/10\/21 – 2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox and begins on February 12th. (There are five elements of Ox in the Chinese zodiac. You may be a Wood, Fire, Earth, or Metal Ox depending on the year.)The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals, you are an OX if you were born n 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, and 2021. People born in the Year of the Ox are known for diligence, dependability, strength, and determination. {Source: Chinese Highlights<\/a>}<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Popular Chinese New Year Foods<\/h2>\n

Living in Orange County where there is a sizeable Asian population and living only a few miles from Little Saigon (Westminster, CA) which has the largest Vietnamese population in the U.S., I always do a Chinese New Year or Tet Festival post and have compiled quite a collection of Chinese New Year foods and recipes. The most popular are Tea Eggs, Cucumber Salad, and Grilled Whole Red Snapper.<\/p>\n

How to Make Tea Eggs for Chinese New Year<\/h2>\n
\"Tea

Tea Eggs for Chinese New Year \u00a9Priscilla Willis<\/p><\/div>\n

Tea eggs<\/strong> are easy to make and have a subtle umami taste that is unexpected and addictive. My friend Anita who is Chinese from Hong Kong shared her recipe, or method, for making tea eggs.<\/p>\n

<\/div>
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\n\t\t\tPrint<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
Tea Eggs for Chinese New Year<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is more a method than a recipe but the result is beautiful, unique, and delicious!<\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tCourse:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAppetizer, Breakfast, Snack\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tCuisine:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tChinese\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tKeyword:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tChinese tea eggs\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tServings<\/span>: 12<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t
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Ingredients<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdozen<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\teggs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcup<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstrong black tea<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStar anise, cinnamon, soy sauce <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfor egg bath<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t \t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t
    Instructions<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    1. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      First, make hard boiled eggs as you normally would. After they have cooled,\u00a0make cracks in the shell, being careful not to have the shell come apart.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    2. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Make a tea bath: the amount of tea used is really up to you. I use enough tea leaves to make 1 cup of strong tea and then multiply that amount for a bath large enough to soak all the eggs so they are covered completely. Dark soy sauce -- ratio is about 1 TBSP soy sauce to 10 cups water.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    3. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Star anise - a little goes a long way (I used 5 stars this year).Cinnamon stick -- I used 1 stick this year for a 3-gallon pot. Salt to taste.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    4. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Make sure the tea egg bathwater is a little saltier than you'd like, bring to a boil, then carefully immerse the eggs into the bath. Bring to a boil and then lower temperature to a gentle simmer.\u00a0\u00a0The amount of time needed depends on how flavorful your bath is. Of course, the more it reduces, the saltier\/more flavorful it will get.\u00a0I simmered about 4 hrs this year and then left to sit in the bath for the rest of the day.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Whole Fish for Chinese New Year<\/h2>\n

      \"Chinese<\/p>\n

      Fish<\/strong> is a must for Chinese New Year as the Chinese word for fish (\u9c7c y\u00fa \/yoo\/) sounds like the word for surplus (\u4f59 y\u00fa). Eating fish is believed to bring a surplus of money and good luck in the coming year. Many Americans get queasy seeing fish served with the head on but that is the norm in many cultures, not just in Asia. Fish eyes are considered a delicacy in much of Asian and are generally served to the guest of honor.<\/p>\n

      Easy to prepare, this recipe for Grilled Red Snapper with Ginger Soy Sauce<\/a> is great at any time of year.<\/p>\n

      \"Chinese<\/p>\n

      Spring Rolls<\/h2>\n

      Spring rolls<\/strong> (\u6625\u5377 Ch\u016bnju\u01cen) are another traditional Chinese New Year food. They are called Spring rolls because they are popular during the Spring Festival especially in East China: Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Fujian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, etc. Spring rolls are a Cantonese dim sum dish where the dough wrappers are filled with vegetables, meat, or something sweet and deep-fried. In the U.S., Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurant menus offer deep-fried Egg rolls while Spring rolls are the “healthier” option because they are filled and wrapped in the same manner but not deep-fried.<\/p>\n

      You can make (or order) either Spring Rolls or Egg Rolls for your Chinese New Year celebration. They aren’t difficult to make and you can find egg roll wrappers in the refrigerated deli section of most supermarkets. Years ago, I developed a recipe for Baked Salmon Egg Rolls<\/a> which gives you that desirable crunch with fewer calories.<\/p>\n

      \"Red

      Red lanterns on a street in Shanghai \u00a9Priscilla Willis<\/p><\/div>\n

      Chinese New Year – Year of the Rat<\/h2>\n

      2020 is the Year of the Rat<\/strong> (also called the Year of the Metal Rat<\/em> and Year of the Gold Rat) <\/em>according to Chinese zodiac. The beginning of Chinese New Year varies from year to year, but always falls somewhere in the period January 21 to February 20, and is based on the lunar calendar vs. the solar calendar.<\/p>\n

      Chinese New Year, aka Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival and an important celebration for families in China. I have had the good fortune to be in Hong Kong and Shanghai during Spring Chinese New Year. It is an official public holiday\u2014children are off from school and most Chinese workers have 8 days off, much like our Christmas\/New Year holiday. Generally, no business is conducted for the two-week period and it is the busiest time for travel in China.<\/p>\n

      \"South

      Year of the Dog celebration at South Coast Plaza \u00a9Priscilla Willis<\/p><\/div>\n

      The Year of the Rat<\/strong> is the first zodiac sign in the\u00a0Chinese zodiac<\/a> cycle. According to the Chinese zodiac story, in the competition held by the Jade Emperor to decide the zodiac animals, the quick-witted rat asked the diligent ox to take him on a ride to cross the river and jumped down before the ox crossed the finish line, so the rat won the race and became the first of the zodiac animals.<\/p>\n

      Rats are quick-witted, resourceful, smart, versatile, and good at saving money but lack courage. With rich imaginations and sharp observations, they can take advantage of various opportunities well. If you were born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 – you are a Rat. No offense xoxo<\/p>\n

      In Chinese culture, rats represent working diligently and thriftiness, so people born in a Rat year are thought to be wealthy and prosperous. {Source: China Highlights<\/a>}<\/p>\n

      Gong Xi Fa Cai!<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Happy Chinese New Year!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Like what you see? Save the image below to your Pinterest boards.<\/p>\n

      Interested in more?<\/p>\n

      Tea Eggs for Chinese New Year<\/a> (Easy Cucumber Salad recipe)<\/p>\n

      Katie Chin’s Firecracker Shrimp (recipe)<\/a><\/p>\n

      Celebrating the Year of the Monkey<\/a><\/p>\n

      Chinese New Year 2015: Year of the Goat\/Sheep<\/a><\/p>\n

      Chinese New Year 2014: Year of the Horse<\/a><\/p>\n

      Chinese New Year 2013: Year of the Snake<\/a><\/p>\n

      Tet Traditions and the Lunar New Year<\/a><\/p>\n

      Tet Traditions<\/a><\/p>\n