Celebrating rabbits, red envelopes and delicious dumplings this Lunar New Year

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Lunar New Year, which kicks off on Sunday, is a wonderful holiday that is celebrated by more than 20% of the globe, lasts for two weeks and encompasses all the good things a holiday has to offer: Family, friends and food!

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The actual holiday is determined by the lunar calendar, and it’s all about fresh starts and rebirth of a new year.

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Lunar New Year customs are based on common sense: Houses are scrubbed, debts are paid off, red clothing is worn, and “lai see” — little red envelopes filled with money — are distributed for good luck.

This year, it’s a celebration of the Year of the Rabbit, a famous symbol considered quite fortunate and full of prosperity.

Many call this a most exciting year, with promises of optimism, notes Michael Lim, director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board for Canada and Central and South America, during a recent media celebration of the Year of the Rabbit.

“The Lunar New Year is considered one of the most profound of festivals of our calendar year (that) reaches out to all corners of the globe. Once you see the celebrations here in Canada, imagine visiting (places) like Hong Kong to really get a taste for what (this holiday) is all about!” said Lim.

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Of course, it wouldn’t be a party without food — and the Lunar New Year is rich in recipes steeped in heritage, tradition and flavour.

Foods and their meanings are central to the celebrations, and some of the favourite dishes served during this special holiday include noodles for longevity, oranges or mandarins for a prosperous life, along with a whole fish and sticky rice.

And if there’s any food synonymous with the Lunar New Year, it would have to be dumplings! They’re shaped like little gold nuggets, representing wealth and good fortune.

They are also at the heart of the kitchen, given many families come together to create these delicious little treats, making them a Lunar New Year favourite.

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Difference between dumplings and dim sum

Are you ordering dim sum, or dumplings? Well, both, but there’s some confusion between the two. Dumplings is a generalized term for “small snack” but when you order dim sum, you’re ordering other foods that are not wrapped in dough. (like chicken feet or sticky rice). In other words, not all dim sum plates are wrapped in dough, but all dumplings are wrapped in dough.

Lastly, there’s a beautiful term for dim sum: Loosely translated, it means “touch the heart.”

Dumplings

We adapted this recipe courtesy of foodbasics.ca to use with pork, turkey, shrimp, chicken or tofu.

1/2 pkg. wonton wrappers

1 lb. minced meat or protein of choice

2 leaves Nappa or Chinese cabbage, blanched, cooled and finely minced

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3 scallions, or green onions, white and some green, finely minced

1 small carrot, peeled, grated

1 clove garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. sesame oil

1/2 tsp. grated ginger

2 tsp. corn starch

1/4 tsp. sugar

Salt/pepper, to taste

Filling: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, except for wonton skins, and mix well.

Place a wonton wrapper on a clean surface so it looks like a diamond. Place a small amount of dumpling mix in centre. Wet bottom corner of wonton skin with water and fold it up to opposite corner. Press edges to seal. Wet two side corners with water, bring them together and press firm to join. Repeat above until all mixture is used up.

Dumplings can be steamed, fried or tossed in a hot broth. Leftovers can be frozen. For this recipe, heat large frying pan to medium-high. Add a Tbsp. vegetable oil. Fry dumplings, one layer at a time, in pan for two minutes until golden brown on both sides. Remove dumplings and set aside. (You can add additional oil if needed.)

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For each batch, add water to pan and bring to a simmer. Place a layer of dumplings; cover pan with lid, and steam 10 to 12 minutes on low until dumplings are opaque.

Serve with favourite dumpling dipping sauce.

The Year of the Rabbit

In Chinese culture, the rabbit is known to be the luckiest out of all twelve animals; it symbolizes mercy, elegance and beauty, and rabbits — especially those with white hair — are a symbol of longevity. Just recently famed designer Angel Chen recently partnered with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label to design a special, limited-edition collector bottle that showcases a modernist interpretation of the 2023 Year of the Rabbit in a bottle that is rich in gold design. The bottles are available wherever fine spirits are sold.

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Here’s a cocktail adapted from Johnnie Walker Blue Label to help celebrate the Lunar New Year:

White Rabbit

1 oz. favourite scotch whisky

2 Tbsp. cucumber lemongrass cordial*

2 Tbsp. fresh Lemon Juice

3 Tbsp. coconut water

Garnish: lemongrass, lemon wheel

In a cocktail shaking tin with ice, combine all ingredients and shake for 10-15 seconds (or until properly chilled and diluted) and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a short stalk of lemongrass and a lemon wheel.

*Add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a pan and heat to boiling. Add 1 small stalk lemon grass and infuse. Puree 1 small cucumber and add to the mix. Cool, strain through a sieve or cheesecloth.