Chinese New Year Food Malaysia: Auspicious Dishes to Serve : F&B Tips

Every Malaysian Chinese New Year gathering involves the talk of food and drinks. Other than Yee Sang and mandarin oranges, get a head start for your business by offering a special menu for your customers!

Be it a full fledge festive spread or a few Chinese New Year-themed dishes, it is good to ride on this opportunity to attract new customers and keep them coming back.

Ring in the Chinese New Year by preparing meals that bring prosperity and good luck to your customers. this is a list of food with great symbolic meaning that you should not miss.

1. Chicken - 吉（鸡）祥如意

Chicken is the staple served at many Chinese restaurants, and it’s the same for Chinese New Year. Symbolically, when served whole, it represents family unity and togetherness. Give it a modern twist by serving Roasted Chicken with Garlic and Salt （蒜盐香烧鸡） instead of poached, you can include some auspicious vegetables too!

Double-Boiled Chicken Soup with Ginseng Root （人参炖鸡汤） is also a great choice if you are looking to expand your Chinese New Year food menu with a chicken stock recipe. The use of this highly popular herb gives your dish a higher perceived value while bringing health benefits (literally) to your diners.

2. Prawn - 哈哈（虾）大笑

On the topic of seafood and Chinese New Year, it’s a crime to leave out prawns. Based on its Cantonese pronunciation, “har”, prawn has a similar meaning to ringing laughter – who doesn’t love more happiness to usher in the new year?

A crowd-favourite dish like Almond Coated Prawn （杏仁片炸鲜虾）can keep your guests satisfied. Crispy and packed with umami and hints of pepper, this dish has an array of complementary flavours and textures that one can’t resist.

Plus, it is believed that the more you eat, the happier your family will be in the new year! So do remember to include this ingredient in your upcoming festive spread.

3. Mixed Vegetables - 财（菜）

Mixed vegetables, as the name suggests are the combination of multiple vegetables of different tastes and flavors to bring out a delicious and synergized taste in your mouth. Thus, it symbolizes union and family harmony. At the same time, it is a great idea to add black moss, fatt choy, in the dish as its pronunciation is similar to “prosperity” in Chinese.

Chinese New Year menu is often dominated by poultry, red meat, and poultry dishes. Your customers would thank you for preparing a healthy yet meaningful dish! Need some idea? Try Steamed Cabbage Roll with Dried Oyster and Black Moss.

4. Fish - 年年有余（鱼）

As the old Chinese saying goes: 年年有余 (nian nian you yu) means to have a surplus of abundance in the year to come. Hence, serving dishes like Peacock Style Fish (孔雀开屏鱼 that has an excellent symbolic meaning and delectable at the same time would kick start your customers’ Chinese New Year with happiness and great abundance.

Similar to chicken, when a fish dish is served with head and tail intact, it symbolizes a positive beginning and end for the coming year. Having some leftovers for this dish is considered a good omen to have a surplus of money in the upcoming year!

5. Tofu - 福气安康；都福；都富

Nothing signifies wealth better than gold, and do you know what food looks the most similar to gold? Prosperity Tofu of course, with its blocky look and golden crust, this dish that looks like gold ingots signifies wealth and happiness.

Its name, Tofu, also sounds like the word for being rich or prosperous together. So it’s no wonder that this is an indispensable dish on the reunion dinner table!

Here’s a pro tip, avoid serving plain, white tofu as the color symbolizes misfortune.

6. Pomelo - 有/又子

Eating pomelos is believed to bring continuous prosperity. Thanks to its name, this large Chinese ancestor of grapefruit symbolizes abundance as it sounds like the word “to have.” Not only that, but its name is also a homophone for the word that means “prayer for a child”. Its round shape brings the meaning of unity too!

Consider using pomelos in your Chinese New Year dessert menu. Feeling adventurous? Try Pomelo Fried Rice with Ebiko (柚子虾卵炒饭）for a savory twist!

7. Sweet balls - 团圆

A sweet beginning begins when you take a bite of sweet balls dessert like 3 Colour Sweet Potato Ball with Rice Cake. The Chinese would not miss out on this round, chewy dessert that symbolizes family togetherness and reunion.

Let your creativity run wild with this highly versatile ingredient – cook it in warm sugary syrup, try different toppings, play around with various fillings, and surprise your guests!

Lastly, don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to impress your guest with an interesting Chinese New Year food menu suitable for Malaysian culture.

Eating any version of these auspicious dishes is meant to bring in fortune, income, health, and business. It’s time to start planning and experimenting!