Lunar New Year’s Day is often regarded as an opportunity for family and friends to get together and share a home-cooked meal, so celebrate at home with our easy menu that’s full of flavour, but won’t take hours to make. Sample hot & sour soup, followed by ginger & garlic spiced chicken and mouth-watering toffee bananas to finish.
Get even more inspiration from our Lunar New Year recipes and our family Lunar New Year recipes.
When is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year 2025, marking the Year of the Horse, commences on the 17 February. This festive occasion derives its name from the lunar calendar, as the celebration dates align with the phases of the moon.
Starter: Hot & sour prawn & sweetcorn soup
In order to get the most flavourful broth, use the stock from the poached chicken in your main course to form the base of the soup. If you’re short of time, just use fresh chicken stock. Traditionally, this soup gets its heat from ground white pepper and is thickened with cornflour, but we used chilli for heat and Chinese black rice vinegar for an irresistible tang. Spend just 20 minutes making our hot & sour prawn & sweetcorn soup, then ladle into bowls and top with strips of crunchy spring onion.
Starter: Shanghainese quickbraise Hong Sao-style lion’s head meatballs
Not traditionally a Lunar New Year food, but the roundness of the meatballs can be symbolic for a ‘well-rounded’ year. The reddish Hong Sao (red-braised Chinese sauce) oozes the lucky red symbolism. Recipe writer Ching-He Huang says, “My grandmother used to say that eating lion’s head meatballs will make us as strong as lions, a personal family favourite saying.” The traditional Shanghainese meatballs are quite large, as big as a fist, but you can make smaller ones, if you like. You can also pre-cook and freeze the meatballs, just give them a quick braise in the red sauce before serving.
Main: One-pot crystal chicken with ginger & chicken oil
Onto the main event: our one-pot crystal chicken with soy sauce, rice wine and a sprinkling of Sichuan pepper is deliciously moist with terrific depth of flavour. Opt for the traditional method of poaching the chicken, or put your pressure cooker to work for a speedy 20-minute dish. Drizzle over some ginger and chilli oil to bring some zing to the dish.
Main: Steamed sea bass with wok-fried bacon lardons, chestnuts & dried Chinese mushrooms
At Lunar New Year, “Nian nian you yu” is symbolic phrase that translates to: “Every year you will have abundance.” The Mandarin word for ‘fish’ (yu) is a homonym for ‘abundance’ (yu), so a whole fish is usually served to symbolise unity and completeness, while the red-coloured chillies bring luck. Use any fish of your choice – cod fillets work well, or use frozen fish – just follow the pack instructions to ensure it is cooked through.
Main: Chinese hotpot
Fill a cooking pot with a Sichuan pepper and chilli-spiced broth, then invite guests to poach their choice of ingredients in it – prawns, steak and chicken all work well. You can also serve your hotpot with tofu for a meat-free option.
Side dish: Stir-fried garlic green beans
Everyone needs a helping of greens on the side, especially when they taste this good. Our simple stir-fried garlic grean beans make a vibrant, healthy accompaniment to a rich and indulgent feast. Throw together four key ingredients, including oyster sauce, and in 15 minutes you’ll have a wholesome addition for the dinner table.
Side dish: Golden egg & onion fried rice
The golden colour of the scrambled egg and wok-charred onion is said to bring wealth for the new year. For a simple yet punchy addition, drizzle crispy chilli oil on top. This is a great side dish to serve with the rest of the feast.
Side dish: Seasonal ‘wealth greens’ (‘Fa cai’)
‘Cai’ is the Mandarin word for ‘vegetables’, but it is also a homonym for ‘prosperity’ and is used in the popular Lunar New Year greeting ‘Gong xi fa cai’, or ‘Congratulations on your wealth!’ This recipe uses red chard, which is sustainable, full of nutrients and shows off the lucky colour, red.
Dessert: Toffee & sesame bananas
Every decadent dinner needs a suitably stunning dessert. Our toffee & sesame bananas are a sweet, sticky taste sensation. Griddle your bananas with light brown sugar until caramelised, then spoon over your speedy homemade caramel and add a dollop of classic vanilla ice cream for good measure. You can even prep the sauce ahead of time for a really relaxed evening of entertaining. What’s not to love?
Dessert: Tanghulu
Try this classic Chinese dessert of bamboo-skewered hawthorn berries or fruit in a candy sugar coating. Use small whole fruits that do not contain a lot of water for the best results. It’s crunchy, juicy and easy to make – the trick is to work quickly.
2. Added extras and drinks
We have a host of easy party bites you can prep before your guests arrive and some classic tipples for entertaining. Try your hand at our Chinese dumplings, stuffed with prawns, water chestnuts and pork, and serve them with your favourite dipping sauce. Go all out with our spicy Sichuan chicken wings with a chopped chilli and crunchy peanut garnish. These deliciously dark and sticky bites will disappear in a matter of minutes. Our hoisin chicken in crisp lettuce is a simple buffet-style food you can prepare ahead of time and this red sweet & sour prawn dish will make for a great addition to a sharing table.
If you’re looking for a lighter dessert to finish your meal, try our refreshing lychee & lime sorbet. Turn a few cans of lychees and three other ingredients into an elegant palate cleanser. For a taste of the tropical, switch it up with our pineapple sorbet with fresh mango.
Spend more time with your guests with our clever two-ingredient cocktails, or serve a signature lychee martini to get the party started.
Not done feasting? Find even more recipes for a Chinese banquet with our guide on how to create a New Year celebration menu with an authentic finish, and learn about Chinese New Year traditions.
Enjoyed these recipes? Get even more entertaining inspiration:
How to cook Chinese food
Our ultimate Chinese recipe collection
Our best Chinese chicken recipes
Everything you need for entertaining
What’s your favourite Chinese dish? Leave a comment below.
