Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Flair
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| Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration culminating in the lantern festival, which will be on February 15 this year. It is often marked on our foodscape with tikoy being gifted to friends and relatives, fresh fruits coming in huge boxes at the market, and many delightful servings of mami noodles. It can be quite a treat to cook something on-theme during the first 15 days of February, something to help our families appreciate a food culture that has influenced ours greatly. If you need a little inspiration, here are five Chinese-influenced recipes for you to try. 1. Sweet and Sour Fish This is a variation of the classic favorite, sweet and sour pork. It’s a dish with plenty of colorful veggies, so all you need to add is delicious rice! 2. Oriental Crab Rice Go all-out festive with this recipe: mud crabs cooked with rice! An easy centerpiece in a celebration table spread, this recipe also requires a little more kitchen know-how. |
3. Diced Chicken with Cashew
A sweet combination of crunchy snow peas and cashew nuts makes this chicken dish worthy celebration fare, even if it’s so easy you can make it on a week night.
4. Lomi
Mami this isn’t, but lomi testifies to how much Chinese cuisine has influenced Filipino cooking. This Batangueno dish can claim to be a noodle dish that got its inspiration from Chinese cooking but is a recipe all our own. It makes for a festive breakfast or lunch, served in colorful bowls for a little extra flair.
5. Lumpiang Papaya with Oyster Sauce
You can go classic with a lumpiang sariwa, but should you wish to try something new, this crispy green papaya spring roll fits the bill. It’s a veggie dish that makes for a delicious side or afternoon snack.
