Chinese New Year is just round the corner (31/1/2014) and in case you are preparing to stock up on some of the goodies and treats, here’s a list of them that you would not want to miss out on!
Bak Kwa
Bak kwa is definitely one of the most popular snacks around during Chinese New Year! It is basically a flat and thin sheet of pork meat, marinated with sugar and salt then barbequed to give it a smoky flavour. Bak kwa is commonly offered to house visitors during Chinese New Year, becoming the fast favourite of young kids.
Want some?
Love Letters
Love letters are sweet, crispy cylindrical biscuits, made from baking sugar, eggs and coconut milk. They are either folded into wedges or rolled up into cylinders.
Mandarin Oranges
Mandarin oranges is a symbol of prosperity and good luck and visitors often exchange a pair of them each time they enter a house. Odd numbers indicate loneliness and should be avoided.
These sweet cookies is a must every Chinese New Year. Small and bite-sized, the buttery base crumbles away easily in the mouth, leaving the generous dollop of pineapple jam in the mouth to savour. These tarts are very addictive and you would be unaware of the number of tarts that goes into your mouth!
Prawn Rolls
Prawn rolls represent joy and are small and crispy rolls of hebi hiam paste, made from dried shrimps and ground sambal chilli, then wrapped in spring roll wrappers and deep fried. These deep fried rolls are very delicious and the smell of them would get one addicted in no time.
Kueh Bangkit
Made from tapioca flour, eggs and coconut milk, Kueh bangkit is a traditional Chinese New Year cookies. They have a thin and crispy exterior which melts into sweetness once you put them in your mouth.
Peanut cookies symbolise longevity hence it is a must have during Chinese New Year. Similar to kueh bangkit, they crumble and melt away in your mouth leaving the nutty taste of peanut butter!
Yu Sheng
Yu sheng is a raw fish salad that symbolises abundance and prosperity.Some ingredients commonly used are white radish, carrots, turnips and pomelo and salmon. The sweet plum sauce and spices are also added to the salad and then tossed using a pair of chopsticks.
Nian Gao
Nian gao is a sticky rice cake which represents self-improvement and good luck. It is made from glutinous rice powder and sweetened with brown sugar, it is then flavoured with rosewater or red bean paste.
Kueh Bahulu
Kueh bahulu are little dry sponge cakes made from eggs, sugar and flour, then baked into a classic fluted round shape
Almonds are said to be anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic which is good for your health. Chinese almond cookies symbolize coins, which is why they are a New Year tradition. More cookies, more money!
Arrowhead Chips (Ngaku)
Arrowhead symbolizes benevolence and is commonly eaten as chips during Chinese New Year.
Kuih loyang/honeycomb kuih/kuih rose/beehive kuih
They are made using intricately designed irons. The iron is heated to a very high temperature in oil, dipped into the batter, then re-immersed in the hot oil to create a crisp shell around the metal. The iron is immediately removed and the rosette is separated from the iron.
Wishing all of you a Happy Chinese New Year and a prosperous year ahead!
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