celebrating the Chinese New Year with typical Chinese dishes
Thanks to the advance of new technologies📲 we can get to know the different cultures, customs and, of course, the gastronomy🍴 of other countries 🌎 with a simple click.
Although for the Western world the beginning of the new year took place on 1 January🗓; according to the Chinese lunar calendar 🇨 this celebration took place on 12 February, starting what for the Chinese is the year 4719. Thus, each year is represented by an animal of the Chinese horoscope; 2020 was the year of the Rat 🐀 , which leaves to give way to the year of the Ox 🐂 characterised by its order, effort and discipline.
The expected entrance of the Ox is welcomed by the Chinese with homes decorated with red objects and doors lit by lanterns🏮. In addition, children receive red envelopes with money🧧, fireworks are set off 🎇 and gifts are exchanged. Of course there is also eating, which is our main point of interest as good foodies 😋.
Focusing on Chinese cuisine for Chinese New Year, it is typical to taste several traditional dishes. Here we bring you the seven most iconic ones, with a great curiosity 🕵🏽 the strong symbolism behind them.
Funny, isn't it? You probably haven't tried or seen many of these dishes 🥢, but as we know you are gastronomic adventurers, we recommend where to try them in Benidorm and the surrounding area.
LONGEVITY NOODLES
These noodles🍜 can be served in two ways: stir-fried with oyster sauce, shiitake mushrooms 🍄 and bok choy 🥬 (a variety of cabbage); or boiled in a broth lightly seasoned with soy and ginger. Our favourites are the stir-fried noodles at Sapporo Buffet (@buffetsapporo), where you'll also find a wide variety of noodles accompanied by other tasty sauces.
Sapporo Buffet - To be picked up at their premises in Albir and Benidorm.
DUMPLINGS
These thin, thin dumplings 🥟 filled with minced meat, prawns 🦐 or vegetables can be steamed, boiled or fried. Ground pork is the most popular ingredient and these, served at Metoo Sushi Buffet (@metoosushi_benidorm), dipped in Tamari sauce are our favourite. It is said that the more dumplings you eat the more money you will receive in the new year, so you know Foodies 🤑!
Metoo Sushi Buffet - To pick up at your Benidorm location.
SPRING ROLLS
The popular wheat flour rolls filled with vegetables and minced meat vary from small rectangles to large flat circles, always accompanied by sweet and sour sauce. They can be steamed, baked or fried, the latter being the most common way of cooking in Chinese restaurants in and around Benidorm. We recommend the big, crispy and tasty rolls that never fail 💯 from the Gran Muralla Chinese restaurant in Villajoyosa, included in their inexpensive set menus which now have a takeaway option🥡.
Chino Gran Muralla- To pick up at your local in Villajoyosa.
Fish
The variety of fish 🐟 eaten on this day varies according to the region of China 🗺, but it is always served whole and neither the head nor the tail is eaten, which is left until the following day as a symbol of abundance. This is not the first dish that comes to mind when we go to eat at a Chinese restaurant, although I must say that if you try the fresh fish of the Golden Bowl you will want to repeat.
Chino Gran Muralla- To pick up at your local in Villajoyosa.
Tangyuan
This dessert of sweet rice dumplings 🍚 which are prepared boiled and have a rubbery texture are served in a bowl of hot and sweet soup 🍭. They are traditionally filled with black sesame paste, red beans, dates or peanuts 🥜. There are also other varieties that are not desserts and are usually filled with a mixture of meat and vegetables. Unfortunately this dish is available in very few Chinese restaurants as it does not suit all tastes. The closest one where we recommend you to try these is the Acuario Chinese Restaurant in Elche, you will be surprised 🤩!
Acuario Chinese Restaurant - Home delivery and pick up service in Elche.
NIÁNGĀO
The famous 🍰 New Year's glutinous rice cake has a chewy texture and may have some filling. Some sweet versions include ingredients such as 🌰 chestnuts, dates and lotus leaves, while savoury versions usually include vegetables, seafood or meat. Like Tangyuan, this cake can be found in a few restaurants, being Ru Yi Restaurant in Alicante one of them, just 30 minutes from Benidorm you can enjoy it.
Ru Yi Restaurant - To pick up at your place in Alicante.
The lucky fruit
Common citrus fruits such as oranges 🍊, tangerines and grapefruit are symbolic during the New Year. Also typical in China is the Kumquat, a dwarf orange tree with a sweet and sour taste that often serves more as decoration than food in households. The golden hue of the citrus cluster signifies harvest while its round shape represents success. They are rarely seen in Chinese restaurants, although they can be found in specialised supermarkets such as Carrefour or El Corte Ingles, ideal for completing an authentic Chinese New Year meal at home 🏡.
Now you have no excuse not to enjoy Chinese cuisine, one of the most internationally renowned for its great variety of flavours and aromas, at this time of year, or at any other time of the year. Let's discover new flavours and may the Year of the Ox bring good fortune!
Thanks to @Foodbenidorm, partner of LA MAARINAA
