17+ Chinese New Year Salad Recipe Elevate Your Taste Buds!
Published on: Mar 1, 2024
The Chinese New Year is a time for celebration, family gatherings, and delicious food. One dish that is an absolute must during this festive occasion is the Chinese New Year Salad, also known as Yu Sheng or Lo Hei. This colorful and flavorful dish is not only a feast for the senses, but it also holds significant meaning and symbolism for the Chinese people. In this article, we will explore the traditional Chinese New Year Salad recipe and its cultural significance. So put on your apron and get ready to create a dish that will impress your family and friends.
Looking for a light and refreshing side dish to pair with your beer can chicken? This Chinese cucumber salad is the perfect option. Thinly sliced cucumbers are tossed in a tangy dressing made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil for a burst of flavor in every bite. Bonus: it’s also a great make-ahead option for easy meal prep.
For a heartier salad option, try this Chinese chicken salad. Shredded chicken is combined with crunchy cabbage, carrots, and peanuts for a well-balanced mix of textures. The dressing is a simple blend of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil that ties everything together. Serve it as a side or add some noodles for a filling meal.
Broccoli takes center stage in this flavorful Chinese broccoli salad. Blanched broccoli florets are mixed with red bell pepper, carrots, and scallions for a colorful and nutritious dish. The dressing is a combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar that adds a tangy kick to the salad.
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Chinese Napa Cabbage Salad with a Crunchy Topping
Main Ingredients: Chinese Cabbage, Green Onions, Canola Oil, Sugar, Rice
This Chinese Napa cabbage salad is a great option for those who prefer a lighter, more delicate salad. The tender Napa cabbage is combined with cucumber, mushrooms, and green onions for a refreshing mix of flavors. The crunchy topping, made with toasted sesame seeds and almonds, adds the perfect amount of texture to this dish.
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Lighter Chinese Chicken Salad
Main Ingredients: Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, Soy Sauce, Rice Wine
If you’re looking for a healthier version of the classic Chinese chicken salad, this recipe is for you. This lighter version swaps out the deep-fried wonton strips for baked wonton wrappers for a healthier crunch. The dressing is also lighter, made with low-sodium soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar for a guilt-free meal.
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Keyword Chicken Salad, Chinese Chicken Salad, Chinese...
Main Ingredients: Wonton Skins, Canola Oil, Chunky Peanut Butter, Fresh
Chicken salad is a classic dish that has been adapted in various cuisines. Chinese chicken salad, in particular, has become a popular option for its unique blend of flavors and textures. This refreshing and nutritious dish is a great option for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a side dish or a main course, these 17 beer can chicken recipes will satisfy your cravings.
This easy Chinese chicken salad is perfect for busy weeknights. With a simple dressing made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, you can have this dish ready in no time. Add in some shredded chicken, cabbage, and carrots, and you have a quick and delicious meal that the whole family will love.
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Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
Main Ingredients: Chicken Breasts, Peanut Oil, Kosher Salt, Pepper, Rice
This Chinese chicken salad with sesame ginger dressing is a must-try for all salad lovers. The dressing is a flavorful combination of sesame oil, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and honey that adds a sweet and tangy kick to the dish. Toss in some crunchy wonton strips and toasted almonds for added texture.
This Chinese smashed cucumber salad, also known as “pai huang gua”, is a light and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer. The cucumbers are smashed and then mixed with a flavorful dressing made from garlic, chili oil, and rice vinegar. The result is a dish that is both spicy and cooling at the same time.
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Chrissy Teigen’s Chinese Chicken Salad
Main Ingredients: Wonton Wrappers, Vegetable Oil, Kosher Salt, Peanut
Celebrity chef Chrissy Teigen has shared her own version of Chinese chicken salad, and it is definitely worth trying. This recipe features romaine lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and mandarin oranges, all tossed in a tangy dressing made with soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar. The result is a refreshing and colorful dish that is full of flavor.
If you’re a fan of cabbage, you’ll love this Chinese cabbage salad. This dish features a mix of Napa cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots, topped with cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. The dressing is a simple blend of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey that adds a perfect balance of sweet and savory to the dish.
This Chinese chopped salad is a great option for those who prefer a heartier salad. The base is a mix of romaine lettuce and red cabbage, topped with chicken, carrots, edamame, and wonton strips. The dressing is a flavorful blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar that adds a punch of flavor to this dish.
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Chinese Sesame Asparagus Salad
Main Ingredients: Asparagus, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Water, White Sesame
This Chinese sesame asparagus salad is a great way to incorporate more veggies into your diet. The asparagus is blanched and then tossed in a sweet and savory dressing made with sesame oil, soy sauce, and honey. The result is a dish that is crunchy, flavorful, and healthy.
If you’re tired of the same old pasta salad, give this Chinese pasta salad a try. This dish features spiral pasta mixed with cabbage, carrots, and green onions. The dressing is a combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, and honey for a tangy and flavorful dish.
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Lucky Black-eyed Pea Salad for the New Year!
Main Ingredients: Lettuce, Black Eyed Peas, Red Onion, Bell Pepper, Black
Black-eyed peas are considered a lucky food to eat on New Year’s Day in many cultures. This lucky black-eyed pea salad is a delicious way to incorporate this tradition into your meal. The salad also features cabbage, carrots, and green onions, all tossed in a flavorful dressing made with rice vinegar and honey.
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Crunchy Chinese Pork Salad
Main Ingredients: Roasted Pork Loin, Bacon, Iceberg Lettuce, Water
This crunchy Chinese pork salad is a great option for those who want a break from chicken. The pork is marinated in a flavorful blend of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil before being grilled to perfection. Toss it with cabbage, carrots, and green onions for a flavorful and filling salad.
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Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing
Main Ingredients: Granulated Sugar, Water, Pickled Ginger, Rice Wine
Last but not least, we have a recipe for a delicious Chinese chicken salad dressing that you can use on any of the salads mentioned above. This dressing is a blend of soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame oil for a well-balanced mix of sweet, savory, and tangy. It’s the perfect finishing touch for any Chinese-inspired salad.
Ingredients for Chinese New Year Salad
For the salad:
Shredded vegetables: Carrots, radish, cucumber, and green papaya
Shredded fruits: Pomelo, mandarin oranges, and green apples
Assorted nuts and seeds: Peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pine nuts
As you can see, the Chinese New Year Salad is a combination of various ingredients that represent prosperity, abundance, and good luck. Each ingredient has its own symbolic meaning, making this dish more than just a simple salad.
The Ritual of Tossing the Salad
The Chinese New Year Salad is not just about the ingredients, but also the ritual of tossing the salad. This tradition, known as the "Lo Hei" or "prosperity toss", involves everyone at the table standing up and using their chopsticks to toss the salad while saying auspicious phrases. The higher the toss, the greater the luck and prosperity for the upcoming year.
Fun fact: The phrase "Lo Hei" in Cantonese sounds similar to "prosperity comes" in Chinese, making this ritual a play on words for attracting good fortune.
How to Make Chinese New Year Salad
Making a Chinese New Year Salad may seem daunting, but with the right ingredients and technique, it's actually quite simple. Here's a step-by-step guide to making this festive dish:
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
Start by shredding all the vegetables and fruits into thin strips. Then, fry the salmon skin until crispy and set aside. Toast the nuts and seeds in a pan until fragrant.
Step 2: Make the dressing
In a small bowl, mix together the plum sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper to make the dressing. Adjust the taste according to your preference.
Step 3: Assemble the salad
On a large platter, arrange the shredded vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, crackers, and fried salmon skin. Leave some space in the center for the dressing.
Step 4: Toss the salad
Before serving, invite everyone to stand up and join in the ritual of tossing the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad and use your chopsticks to toss everything together while saying auspicious phrases.
And voila, your Chinese New Year Salad is ready to be enjoyed!
In Conclusion
The Chinese New Year Salad is more than just a dish, it's a representation of the hopes and wishes for abundance and prosperity in the coming year. So this Chinese New Year, gather your loved ones and celebrate with this delicious and meaningful salad. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
