20 Lunar New Year Dishes Served For Luck, Wealth, And Long Life
Lunar New Year feasts are more than delicious traditions. Every dish carries wishes for luck, wealth, long life, and family togetherness.
You will taste stories of prosperity in golden bites, surplus in whole fish, and unity in sweet, round dumplings. Ready to build a table that invites good fortune for the year ahead?
1. Longevity Noodles (Chang Shou Mian)
Extra long noodles promise a longer life, so keep them whole as you slurp. The custom is simple and hopeful: do not cut or bite through strands if you can help it.
Serve them glossy with soy, scallions, and a whisper of sesame oil.
You can toss in mushrooms, bok choy, or shrimp for a celebratory lift. Their length feels playful yet powerful, like a wish you can twirl on chopsticks.
Cook gently to avoid breakage, and present them proudly in one generous bowl.
2. Whole Steamed Fish
Serving a whole fish symbolizes abundance from start to finish, head to tail. Keep the fish intact to honor completeness and prosperity in the coming year.
Aromatics like ginger and scallions perfume the dish, while a light soy and hot oil finish brings sheen.
Choose a fresh, mild fish and steam until just flaky. Present it on an oval platter so everyone can share.
Some households save a portion for tomorrow to signify surplus that carries forward, a subtle promise that what you have today will grow.
3. Jiaozi (Dumplings)
These dumplings resemble ancient gold ingots, so every pleat suggests prosperity. Gather around the table to fold, chat, and fill them with pork, shrimp, or cabbage.
Boiled, steamed, or pan-fried, jiaozi are little pockets of luck.
Line them like shiny ingots and listen for the sizzle if you potstick them. Dip in black vinegar with a hint of chili.
Some families tuck a coin into one dumpling for an extra lucky bite, so chew mindfully and smile wide when fortune lands on your plate.
4. Spring Rolls
Spring rolls fry up golden like tiny bars of wealth. Bite through the shatteringly crisp shell to reveal savory vegetables or meat.
Their color and shape channel prosperity, which makes them a must for the New Year table.
Keep fillings dry to maintain crunch, and roll tightly for neat edges. Serve with a simple dipping sauce or a tart-sweet vinegar.
When that first crackle hits, it feels like breaking open a good omen. Stack them high and watch everyone reach for another lucky piece.
5. Glutinous Rice Cake (Nian Gao)
Nian gao sounds like higher year, so every chewy bite represents promotion, growth, and leveling up. The sticky sweetness lingers, hinting your progress will too.
Steam it until set, then slice and pan-fry for caramelized edges.
Brown sugar versions taste deep and toasty, while coconut milk brings tropical warmth. Serve in tidy wedges so guests can share the upward momentum.
It is humble yet ambitious, exactly the energy you want. With each slice, you are inviting the new year to lift you higher.
6. Tangyuan (Sweet Rice Balls)
Tangyuan are soft, round, and comforting, standing for family unity and togetherness. They bob in a gingery syrup or savory broth, inviting you to gather close.
The black sesame or peanut filling feels like a sweet secret shared.
Serve them during New Year or Lantern Festival for the full circle moment. The round shape echoes reunion, while the warmth soothes winter nights.
Sip the syrup, savor the filling, and let the roundness remind you that home is not just a place, it is people connecting.
7. Mandarin Oranges and Tangerines
Bright, fragrant mandarins signal luck and wealth, helped by names that sound auspicious. Place bowls at the entrance, share them with friends, and keep leaves attached when possible for a fresh start.
Their color mirrors gold, a hint that fortune is near.
Peel them at the table so the citrus perfume lifts spirits. Offer pairs for harmony.
They are simple, portable blessings, sweet without fuss. Passing them around feels like sharing sunshine, a quick, delicious way to wish everyone prosperity and joy.
8. Sticky Rice (Lotus Leaf or Family Style)
Sticky rice stands for sticking together, a hearty symbol of family closeness. Wrapped in lotus leaves or served family style, it feels generous and celebratory.
The fragrance rises as you lift the lid, revealing sausage, mushrooms, or peanuts inside.
Each scoop clings like kin who show up for you. The richness reads as abundance, a full bowl that says there is enough for all.
Share it hot so the grains meld into savory comfort. It is togetherness you can hold in your chopsticks.
9. Braised Mushrooms
Earthy mushrooms bring a harvest mood, hinting at prosperity and steady growth. Slow braising with oyster sauce turns them glossy and deeply savory.
They pair beautifully with bok choy or noodles, soaking up flavor like tiny sponges of luck.
Choose plump caps and let them simmer until tender. The sheen signals celebration, while the aroma whispers banquet.
Serve in a clay pot to keep warmth, and spoon generously. With each bite, you taste grounded abundance, the kind of wealth that grows from patience.
10. Black Moss Seaweed (Fat Choy)
Fat choy sounds like get rich, so it often stars in Cantonese New Year dishes. Tangle it with mushrooms or dried oysters for layered savor.
The texture is distinctive and conversation starting, a visual pun placed right on the plate.
Use sparingly for balance and sustainability, letting the symbolism shine without overwhelming. Braise in a rich sauce until silky.
When you serve it, say the blessing out loud, inviting prosperity to take a seat. It is a playful, pointed nod to the fortune everyone hopes to welcome.
11. Abalone
Abalone signals luxury and good fortune, often appearing at celebratory banquets. Its tender chew and rich sauce feel special, like dressing up your wishes.
Serve with greens to frame the gleam and make the plate pop.
Slow braising rewards patience, concentrating flavor into every slice. A few pieces go a long way, so share widely.
The message is unmistakable: may wealth and opportunity flow generously. When abalone graces the table, you can feel the room lift with festive energy and quiet delight.
12. Dried Scallops
Dried scallops, or conpoy, announce abundance with their concentrated ocean sweetness. Rehydrated and gently braised, they turn silky and deeply savory.
Pair them with mushrooms and greens so the sauce clings and shines.
They are a pantry treasure that upgrades any festive stir fry or rice. A small handful perfumes an entire dish, stretching flavor like prosperity stretches resources.
Serve proudly and let guests savor the umami richness. It tastes like a celebration earned through care and preparation.
13. Whole Chicken
A whole chicken stands for family unity and completeness, a centerpiece that invites everyone to gather. Poach gently, then slice and reassemble so it looks intact.
Serve with scallion ginger oil to highlight clean flavors.
The presentation says we begin and end together. It feels ceremonial without fuss, nourishing and elegant.
Place it at the center so conversations orbit naturally. As you share, you are toasting to harmony and a household that stays connected through every season ahead.
14. Char Siu (Cantonese Barbecued Pork)
Char siu glows a lucky red, the color of celebration and joy. Its sweet savory glaze and charred edges make every slice irresistible.
Roast until caramelized, then brush with more sauce for a shiny finish.
Serve it sliced over rice or tucked into buns. The aroma alone gathers people.
You can taste festivities in the sticky glaze, as if every bite carries fireworks. It is the kind of dish that keeps plates full and spirits high, a vibrant nod to prosperity.
15. Eight-Treasure Rice (Ba Bao Fan)
Eight is a lucky number, and eight-treasure rice puts that luck right on your dessert plate. Sticky rice holds a jeweled mix of dates, lotus seeds, and candied fruits.
Steam, unmold, and glaze so it gleams.
Each spoonful blends chewy, sweet, and fragrant notes, like gathering blessings in one bowl. It is celebratory without being fussy.
Serve at the end of the meal to seal the deal on good fortune, sending everyone home with a sweet sign-off.
16. Prosperity Toss Salad (Yu Sheng / Lo Hei)
Yu sheng is all about lifting luck higher as everyone tosses the salad together. Pile shredded vegetables, raw fish, plum sauce, and crispy bits on a platter.
Then stand up, say auspicious phrases, and toss high for prosperity.
The joyful mess becomes a ritual of wishes. Colors sparkle, textures crunch, and laughter seals the blessing.
It is interactive, delicious, and theatrical, a perfect start to a prosperous year. Do not be shy, the higher the toss, the bigger the hopes.
17. Lettuce Wraps and Stir-Fries
Lettuce sounds like growing wealth in some dialects, so lettuce wraps feel like edible good fortune. Fill crisp leaves with savory stir fry for a refreshing bite.
The crunch is a lovely contrast to richer dishes on the table.
Use tender butter lettuce or romaine hearts. Keep fillings saucy but not soggy, so they tuck neatly.
Pass the platter and let everyone build their own luck. It is light, shareable, and symbolically spot on, a green reminder that prosperity should stay fresh and lively.
18. Sweet Red Bean Desserts
Sweetness foretells a sweet year, and red bean desserts deliver gentle comfort. Serve a warm soup with tender beans and tiny rice balls, or enjoy soft cakes and buns.
The color nods to luck, while the flavor soothes.
It is the kind of dessert that invites seconds without weighing you down. Add tangerine zest or coconut milk for a festive twist.
Share by the ladleful, letting the warmth gather folks closer. The message is clear and delicious: may your days ahead be pleasantly sweet.
19. Steamed Sponge Cake (Fa Gao)
Fa gao rises and splits like a blooming flower, symbolizing prosperity expanding. The airy crumb feels cheerful, light, and celebratory.
Steam in cups until the tops open proudly.
Serve warm so the fragrance floats across the room. The name echoes fortune, making each bite a small blessing.
Offer them alongside tea and watch the tray empty fast. It is a humble cake with an ambitious message, perfect for welcoming growth in the year to come.
20. Candied Fruit and Tray of Togetherness
The tray of togetherness offers candies, seeds, and dried fruits as a sweet welcome to guests. Each piece symbolizes hopes for the year, from fertility to fortune.
Set it out prominently so visitors feel instantly included.
Choose bright, glossy sweets and crunchy seeds for contrast. Kumquats and candied lotus root bring cheer.
Passing the tray around is a friendly ritual that says there is plenty to share. It is hospitality made edible, a sugary promise of abundance and community.
