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The world is your oyster (sauce) when it comes to celebrating the year of the rabbit.
And, while some of us might think of our favourite dish from the local Chinese when it comes to getting stuck into some Far Eastern food, there are actually oodles more options available to try.
From the symbolic sharing dish Yu Sheng salad to ‘heat and eat’ cooking kits, let’s take a look at what’s on offer.
Hand-picked health
Specialty tea is not only consumed in great quantities at Chinese New Year but given as a gift. High-quality Chinese tea can provide health benefits thanks to ingredients such as polyphenols, which have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Try Yellow Tea Buds from Guizhou – a rare, mellow tea with notes of white grapes and violets, composed of carefully hand-plucked buds rich in amino acids.
Significant sharing
Yu Sheng salad is a symbolic sharing dish enjoyed to usher in longevity, luck, peace and prosperity. It’s served in most restaurants and households and you can try it at Asian restaurant Rasa Sayang in Soho, London, or take it away to enjoy at home.
The ingredients include shredded carrots, radish, pickled ginger, coriander, sliced raw salmon, peanuts, sesame and five-spice powder – all topped with a fruit-based sauce. Each ingredient carries its own auspicious significance – salmon represents abundance throughout the year, crispy wonton skin signifies gold, and carrots bring luck into your life – who knew?
Visit Rasa Sayang in Soho, London
Green dream
Award-winning ice cream brand Badiani Gelato has introduced a vegan green-tea sorbet, right, for new year, made with high-quality Chinese loose-leaf tea and a base of water, sunflower oil and soy protein. It’s a lot healthier than regular gelato, with no additives.
Find it at any Badiano London branches, from £4.80 for a small cup
Glass of good luck
Lucky Buddha beer is brewed and bottled in China and, as it’s made only from rice flakes, malt, water and hops, it’s both vegetarian and vegan-friendly. It won gold at last year’s Global Beer Masters awards, and it’s a great addition to any Chinese New Year festivities. The cute bottle is made in the shape of Buddha himself, and features four good-luck symbols on the bottom.
Buy a case of 24 bottles costs for £44.99, from Click N Drink
Noodles and poodles
Pup-friendly west London diner the Pawsitive Café is run by a dog-loving Malaysian chef. For new year, the café will be decked with authentic decorations, host traditional lion-dancing and offer a limited-edition menu. Dishes will include golden mantou (fluffy steamed and fried buns), salted egg yolk prawns and a box of new year cookies. There will also be a special mocktail menu – try the Mandarin Blossom, with fresh mandarin juice, mint leaves and Sanpellegrino Aranciata, or the Golden Dew, with honeydew tea, matcha tea, lime and sweet syrup.
Visit Pawsitive Café in west London
Calorie-cutter
Most of us know that fried pork dumplings are delicious, but why not try something a little healthier this new year instead? If you opt for steamed vegetarian dumplings – or gyoza – then you’ll save about 312 calories and 19.6g of fat.
Buy Itsu’s vegetable fusion gyoza, for £3, from Ocado
Heat-and-eat box
Master of Chinese food Dave Critchley is behind Liverpool restaurant Lu Ban. He has developed fresh ‘heat and eat’ cooking kits, perfect for your own new year dinner. Try the beef box, with beef in oyster sauce, egg fried rice and Chinese spiced greens.
‘Heat and Eat’ cooking kits from £10, at Luban Kitchen
How to make a Guava Chilli Sour cocktail
London Indo-Chinese restaurant brand Fatt Pundit has created a non-alcoholic fruit cooler that still packs a punch. Add tequila if you’re done with Dry January.
Ingredients:
15 ml agave nectar
Lime, juiced to make 25ml, plus extra wedges for the garnish
25g guava, sliced, or 25 ml guava purée (or Boiron guava purée)
25 ml guava juice
Pinch red chilli powder
Pinch of Himalyan pink salt
Ice
Red chilli powder and Himalyan pink salt for mix for glass rim, optional
50 ml Calle tequila
Method:
1. Place sliced guava in a cocktail shaker and mash lightly with a muddler. Add tequila (is using), lime juice, agave nectar, guava juice, chilli powder and salt.
2. Fill shaker with ice. Place a mixing glass over shaker, hold and shake ten to 15 times.
3. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rock glass and dip the glass into the chilli and salt mix. Strain cocktail into the lined rock glass filled with ice.
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Chinese New Year 2022
February 1 is Chinese New Year – also known as Lunar New Year – with 2022 being the Year Of The Tiger.
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