East and Southeast Asian communities worldwide are preparing to observe the Lunar New Year, which commences on 17 February and spans 15 days. Each year in the Chinese zodiac corresponds to an element within the cycle. As we mark the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse, this zodiac cycle signifies a period conducive to significant life transformations, characterized by high-stakes endeavors, personal evolution, and a heightened pace of existence.
Given its occurrence only once every 60 years within the zodiac calendar, some may not witness this event again in their lifetime. To commemorate the Year of the Fire Horse, author Angela Hui shared her affection for the Lunar New Year and cherished moments with family, alongside providing a delightful recipe for home preparation.
Before delving into the culinary realm, why not engage in crafting your own fire horse through the ancient Chinese art of paper folding, courtesy of Tesco? Simply access the provided sheet for print and follow the instructional video.
Lunar New Year holds a special place for many, often dubbed as the “Asian Christmas,” representing a pivotal celebration in the annual calendar. It serves as a period for familial reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and welcoming prosperity.
One of the highlights during this festive period is the opportunity to cook alongside my culinary expert mother. Food acts as our primary means of communication, fostering a special bond between us. Engaged in the kitchen, time seems to fade away as we engage in casual chatter while preparing dumplings or slicing vegetables in harmonious sync. The unspoken rhythm of the kitchen brings a sense of comfort, where mere presence suffices, transcending the need for words.
Culinary choices play a crucial role in shaping the festive celebration. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes laden with auspicious meanings symbolizes hopes for the upcoming year. Engrossed in planning our family’s Lunar New Year menu, we exchange recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice notes in anticipation. “Whole steamed fish is indispensable,” my mother emphasizes, alluding to the wish for surplus and abundance, synonymous with prosperity year after year.
Engulfed in conversation, we deliberate on various menu options, settling on eight dishes symbolizing affluence, luck, and wholeness. To aid in your culinary journey, I have shared my steamed fish recipe below, with all necessary ingredients available at Tesco.
**Ingredients:**
– 1 whole or filleted seabass, gutted and descaled
– 1/4 tsp white sugar
– 1/2 thumb of ginger
– 1 spring onion
– 1 handful of fresh coriander
– 1 tbsp light soy sauce
– 1 tsp sesame oil
– 1 tbsp vegetable oil
**Serve with:**
– White jasmine rice
– Pak choi or choi sum (optional)
**Instructions:**
– Rinse and prepare the fish for steaming.
– Steam the fish with sugar sprinkled, adding ginger, spring onion, and coriander.
– Drizzle with soy sauce and sesame oil.
– Finish by adding hot vegetable oil over the fish before serving with rice and greens.
As we embrace a year ripe for change, brimming with fresh prospects, personal advancement, and a faster pace of life, the Lunar New Year serves as a gentle reminder to pause, relish family ties, bid farewell to the old year, welcome abundance in the new year, and leave a little space for indulgence.