East and Southeast Asians worldwide are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year, scheduled for February 17 this year and spanning 15 days. Each Chinese zodiac year aligns with an element in the cycle, and as we embrace the Year of the Fire Horse, it signifies a period conducive to significant life alterations. This year is linked to high-stakes endeavors, personal development, and a heightened pace of life.
Given that this occurrence only repeats every 60 years in the zodiac calendar, some individuals might not witness it again in their lifetime. To mark the Year of the Fire Horse, we had a conversation with author Angela Hui, who expressed her affection for the Lunar New Year and the cherished moments shared with loved ones, complemented by a delightful recipe for home preparation.
Before you engage in culinary activities, why not craft your own fire horse using the Chinese art of paper folding, courtesy of Tesco? Simply print the provided sheet and follow the instructions in the accompanying video. The Lunar New Year, also known as “Asian Christmas” for many families, stands as the most significant holiday on the calendar, fostering family reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and beckoning good fortune.
The essence of returning home lies in the opportunity to cook alongside my chef mother. As cliché as it may sound, food serves as our means of communication. Engaged in culinary activities, time seems to slip away. We engage in chitchat akin to aunties while folding dumplings or silently dicing vegetables beside each other. There is a comforting aura in that unspoken culinary harmony. Simply being in each other’s company suffices, often transcending the need for words.
Moreover, food plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the celebration itself. In Chinese culture, it is customary to serve symbolic dishes representing aspirations for the upcoming year. Engrossed in planning our family’s Lunar New Year menu days ahead, we exchange recipe suggestions, photos, videos, and voice notes. “Whole steamed fish is a necessity,” my mother asserts, citing “年年有余, leen leen yow yu.”
In Cantonese, the term for fish, yu, phonetically resembles words denoting surplus and abundance, entwined with wishes for perennial prosperity. “What about dumplings?” I propose. Signifying wealth, dumplings are believed to bring riches with each bite. Resembling ancient gold ingots, piling your plate high with them is strongly encouraged.
“We could prepare money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers,” I suggest. We engage in a back-and-forth exchange, strategizing until our conversation history brims with voice notes, ultimately settling on eight dishes symbolizing affluence, luck, and wholeness.
Below, I’ve shared my steamed fish recipe for your culinary endeavors at home. All the necessary ingredients for this delectable dish are readily available at Tesco.