Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and as Malaysians, one of our favourite things about any celebratory festival is FOOD. Feeling the urge to make your reservation at the nearest Chinese restaurant already? What if we tell you that these tasty delights are not as difficult to make as you think? Yes, you can now enjoy your favourite CNY dishes in the comfort of your own home with just a few simple ingredients and steps. Best yet, these dishes are halal-friendly so that you can spread the joy with all your friends and family!
Don’t forget to also equip your gas stove with the reliable BHPetrol LPG, also known as BHPetrogas! BHPetrogras is an ideal fuel for cooking as it provides consistent heat, ensuring that your dishes are cooked to perfection every time! Trusted by many industrial partners, BHPetrogas is also a clean and cost-saving source of energy that allows you to cook safely with its purity of content.
Roll your sleeve, and get your apron on, cause we’re going to show these 8 traditional Chinese New Year dishes that are easy to make at home.
Yee Sang (Prosperity Toss)
Photo Credits: Covoji Learning
Let’s start with the most iconic dish during Chinese New Year – the Yee Sang! This colourful and refreshing salad is not only delicious but also a symbol of prosperity and good luck. All you need to do is gather up the ingredients, such as shredded cucumber, carrots, pomelo, and top it off with some raw salmon slices, and you are good to go!
Chinese Steamed Fish
Chinese steamed fish is often served during a reunion dinner for the meaning of 年年有余 (A Year of Abundance). The word for “fish” in Chinese, which is “yu” (鱼), sounds like the word for “abundance” (余). Therefore, eating fish is associated with the wish for prosperity and abundance in the coming year.
To prepare this dish of good luck at home, marinate a whole fish with ginger and soy sauce to remove the fishy smell for a better taste and let it sit in the fridge for about twenty minutes. When cooking, place the fish in a plate and steam it for about fifteen minutes or more depending on the size of the fish.
Kuih Loyang (Honeycomb Biscuit)
Kuih Loyang, also known as Kuih Rose, is a popular snack during Chinese New Year. With its honeycomb-like design and crispy texture, it’s no wonder this kuih is the classic! If you thought you could not prepare kuih loyang at home, think again! With a little preparation, you can now create your version at home with the help of copper moulds and some simple ingredients such as flour, sugar, sesame and coconut milk.
Poon Choi (Big Bowl Feast)
Photo Credits: Ajinomoto
Poon Choi translates to “big bowl feast” and it is a dish that is often served for its great presentation of the stunning visual. This one-pot dish is filled with layers of meat, seafood, vegetables and mushrooms cooked in a thick sauce. While it may seem complicated to make, all you need is a large pot and layer the ingredients according to cooking time.
Preparing a Poon Choi may require more effort and time compared to simpler dishes, but if you enjoy cooking and want to impress your guests, it could be a good choice!
Spring Rolls (Popia)
Spring Rolls are another popular Chinese New Year dish that is surprisingly easy to prepare. Just wrap the shredded vegetables of your choice and give them a quick fry in oil for a delightfully crispy treat. The best part is that you can easily tailor the ingredients to accommodate everyone’s dietary restrictions.
Glutinous Rice Balls (Tang Yuan)
Photo Credits: Freepik
Traditionally, Tang Yuan symbolises unity and togetherness amongst families, and it’s a dessert commonly eaten during many Chinese festivals, such as winter solstice, and Chinese New Year.
You can now easily make this dessert at home by mixing glutinous rice flour with water to make the dough, paired with filling at your preference, for example, red bean, and black sesame paste. Wrap the filling with dough and roll them into perfect round shapes, cook in boiling water. And ta-dah! They’re ready to be served with brown sugar syrup once the glutinous rice balls are well-cooked to float to the surface.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is a versatile dish that you can serve during Chinese New Year. All you need is leftover rice and a few ingredients such as eggs, carrots, and green onions. Add in your favourite protein, and you have a tasty traditional dish ready in no time!
Golden Crispy Cereal Prawn
Photo Credits: Maggi
Cereal prawns are another must-try dish during Chinese New Year. The crispy and slightly sweet cereal paired with succulent prawns is a match made in heaven! To make this dish at home, coat the prawns in cereal before frying them until they turn golden brown. Then, toss them with butter, garlic, and curry leaves. Sprinkle some sugar and salt for that perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavour.
Now that you have these 8 easy-to-make traditional Chinese New Year dishes in your lineup, you can impress your family and guests with the delicious homemade feast! First and foremost, ensure that your gas stove is equipped with the dependable BHPetrol LPG, also known as BHPetrogas, for the ultimate cooking experience. Wishing you a joyful Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
