Celebrate Lunar New Year with 3 easy Chinese dishes anyone can make

Lunar New Year falls on February 17, and it’s the perfect excuse to gather family, honour tradition and – of course – enjoy beautiful food.

Chinese New Year dishes aren’t just delicious; they’re symbolic. Long noodles represent longevity, dumplings symbolise wealth, and whole fish signals abundance for the year ahead. The good news? You don’t need restaurant skills (or specialty equipment) to create a festive spread at home.

Here are three simple, crowd-pleasing dishes that any home cook can master.

Easy Pork & Chive Dumplings (Jiaozi) – For Wealth and Prosperity

Dumplings are shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots – making them a must-have for prosperity.

Simple Filling:

500g pork mince
1 cup finely chopped Chinese chives (or spring onions)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
Mix everything together.

To Assemble:

Use store-bought dumpling wrappers
Place a teaspoon of filling in the centre
Wet edges with water, fold and press to seal

Cook:

Pan-fry in a little oil until bottoms are golden
Add ½ cup water, cover and steam until cooked through
Serve with soy sauce + black vinegar + chilli oil.

Longevity Noodles – For a Long, Happy Life

The key rule? Don’t cut the noodles – long strands symbolise long life.

You’ll Need:

250g dried egg noodles
1 red capsicum, sliced
1 carrot, julienned
1 cup snow peas
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic

Method:

Cook noodles according to packet.
Stir-fry vegetables in a wok or large pan.
Add garlic, sauces and drained noodles.
Toss until glossy and combined.
Add shredded chicken, prawns or tofu if you like – but it’s just as good vegetarian.

Steamed Soy & Ginger Fish – For Abundance

In Mandarin, the word for fish sounds like “surplus” – making it a powerful New Year symbol.

Ingredients:

1 whole snapper or barramundi (cleaned)
3 slices fresh ginger
2 spring onions, sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil

Method:

Place ginger inside fish cavity.
Steam for 8–12 minutes (depending on size).
Drizzle soy sauce over fish.
Heat sesame oil until hot and pour over the top.
Scatter spring onions to finish.
Simple. Elegant. Impressive.

The Best Part?

These dishes look celebratory and luxurious – but they’re affordable, straightforward and perfect for sharing. Whether you’re hosting a big family lunch or just marking the occasion quietly at home, cooking these traditional foods is a beautiful way to welcome good fortune, health and happiness for the year ahead.