20 Citrusy Recipes to Ring in Chinese New Year (2024)

We sure can’t get enough gorgeous winter citrus, but vitamin C isn’t the only benefit. Oranges, tangerines, clementines, kumquats and pomelos are all considered lucky come Chinese New Year. We’ve hand-picked 20 recipes that are a terrific way to celebrate both the fruits themselves and the holiday at the same time. Now that’s one tasty way to multitask!

2. Asian Ramen Noodle Salad: Transform this crunchy, sweet-savory salad into a meal by adding a few shreds of chicken to the mix. (via Little Spice Jar)

3. Pink Pomelo and Rose Tarts With Honey Meringue: These pomelo and rose tarts bring a romantic feeling to the table in a big way. Enjoy the combo of fluffy honey-sweetened meringue and creamy, tart curd followed by a buttery crust all in one bite. (via Butter and Brioche)

4. Fresh Orange Muffins: Brighten up your mornings by baking up a batch of these muffins the night before; they’ll start your day off on the right foot. (via At the Corner of Happy and Harried)

5. Slow Cooker Sesame Orange Chicken: This takeout fake-out is a breeze to make during the week. Pop everything in your slow cooker, set it on low, and five hours later it’s good to go. (via Wicked Spatula)

6. Clementine Ice Cream: A touch of orange liqueur brings out the flavor of the fresh clementine juice churned into this rich ice cream. It takes eight yolks, but we have plenty of ideas to keep the whites from going to waste. (via Savory Simple)

7. Pineapple + Tangerine Whiskey Vermouth: A combo of tangerine and pineapple juice enlivens this bourbon punch to make a sip perfect for year-round quaffing. (via Swooned)

8. Flourless Clementine Cake (Gluten-Free): Scented with orange, this almond flour cake makes a terrific breakfast or afternoon tea treat. (via No Thyme to Waste)

9. Baked Brie With Prosciutto and Kumquats: Cut into the crisp puff pastry shell to reveal an oozing round of brie topped with kumquats, cranberries and prosciutto. This is definitely worthy of an invite to your next party. (via See Salt)

10. Chocolate-Dipped Clementines With Pistachios: A dip in dark chocolate and sprinkle of pistachios is an easy way to upgrade clementine slices. (via 80Twenty)

11. Spiced Tangerine Tart: Ginger and cardamom accent the citrus flavor perfectly in this tangy tart. (via Savory Nothings)

12. Celebration Pomelo + Noodle Salad: Double down on your luck this Chinese New Year with this pairing of noodles and pomelo. Served chilled, it’s even a terrific make-ahead meal for lunch, dinner, you name it. (via Happy Hearted Kitchen)

13. Honey Tangerine Buffalo Chicken Wings With Yogurt Ranch Dip: These wings taste so much richer than they actually are. They skip the dip, the fryer and the usual fatty dressing, opting for the broiler and a fat-free, yogurt-based ranch. (via ChefDeHome)

14. Jack + Jill: Shake up this clementine gin co*cktail and the first sip will transport you somewhere sunny and warm. (via One Martini)

15. Simple Wintry Salad: Brighten up your next kale salad with persimmons, pomegranate seeds, kumquats and an orangey vinaigrette. (via Nutrition Stripped)

16. Candied Pomelo Rind: Don’t toss that bitter pomelo rind! Transform it into this sweet-tart candy instead. (via Munchin with Munchkin)

17. Peking Duck Breast With Clementine + Spices: Working with duck breasts is *so* much easier than grilling the whole bird. This combo of fatty meat along with the tang of a sweet, spiced sauce will make mouths water. (via Cuisine Addict)

18. Raw Chocolate Mousse + Marinated Oranges: Reminiscent of those chocolate oranges that break apart into segments once smashed, this mousse is perfect for when you’re in the mood for something fluffier. (via Happy Hearted Kitchen)

19. Baked Mahi Mahi With Clementines: Mild-flavored mahi mahi is a great choice for this healthy dish. Stuff leftovers into tortillas along with salsa and slaw to make some righteous tacos. (via Army Wife to Suburban Life)

20. Vanilla Pound Cake With Kumquat-Thyme Marmalade: Even if pound cake isn’t your style, the marmalade alone is worth throwing together. It will elevate toast, scones, waffles and so much more. (via Salt + Wind)

Share your favorite citrus recipes with us below!

From Your Site Articles

  • This Paleo Orange Chicken Recipe is Made Easier in Your Instant Pot - Brit + Co ›
  • Lucky Lunar New Year Recipes — Brit + Co - Brit + Co ›
  • Celebrate The Lunar New Year — Brit + Co - Brit + Co ›

Heather Sage

Heather Sage is a gluten-free recipe developer and freelance writer living in Orlando by way of the Silicon Valley. When she isn’t playing around with alternative flours in the kitchen, she can be found tackling DIY projects around the house or exploring her neighborhood. Check out her gluten-free recipe blog, A Sage Amalgam.

20 Citrusy Recipes to Ring in Chinese New Year (2024)

FAQs

What dessert do you eat on Chinese New Year? ›

Tang Yuan: Glutinous Rice Balls

Usually eaten on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, tang yuan (湯圓) is a sweet treat that symbolizes familial unity and togetherness. Our favorite fillings are sweet black sesame and ground peanuts, but feel free to get creative with your fillings (Nutella, tahini, peanut butter...).

What is the two foods to eat during Chinese New Year to bring good luck? ›

Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year food gifts because they're believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine closely resemble the words for luck and wealth. The gold color also symbolizes prosperity.

What are 6 lucky foods for Chinese New Year? ›

Ingredients like citrus, such as oranges (which symbolize good fortune), roasting whole chickens or fish (which symbolize wholeness and abundance), serving long noodles like Dan Dan noodles (which symbolize longevity), and spring rolls (which symbolize wealth) are all classic good luck foods to serve.

What is the cake snack for Chinese New Year? ›

Niangao, which literally translates to “year cake”, is a festive staple that is made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. As gao has the same pronunciation as the word high in Chinese, niangao is believed to reward those who consume it with prosperity and higher status in the new year.

What are 4 Chinese desserts? ›

The best Chinese desserts are red bean buns, dragon's beard candy, egg tarts, candied fruit, pumpkin pancakes, sweet egg buns, deep fried durians, sweet soup balls, almond jelly, and grass jelly.

Do you eat cake on Chinese New Year? ›

Rice cakes (nian gao) – southern China

The word nian gao sounds like “higher year,” representing a better year to come. “People eat rice cake because in Chinese, the cake carries the meaning of height, so if you eat cake, it means that in the new year, you will have good luck,” Xiu said.

What are the four Chinese New Year dishes? ›

Here you go – the four Chinese New Year dishes. We've unwrapped the stories and symbolism encapsulated in fish (魚/鱼; yú), dumplings (餃子/饺子; jiǎo zi), chicken (雞/鸡; jī), and spring rolls (春捲/春卷; chūn jǔn) – each dish is a delicious narrative of prosperity, unity, and renewal in Chinese New Year celebrations.

What are the 7 Lucky new year's food traditions around? ›

7 Lucky New Year's Traditions
  • Grapes // Spain. Better hope all those grapes taste sweet! ...
  • Black-Eyed Peas // Southern United States. ...
  • Soba Noodles // Japan. ...
  • Pomegranate // Eastern Europe. ...
  • Lentils // Europe & South America. ...
  • Marzipan Pigs // Germany & Scandinavia. ...
  • Pickled Herring // Poland, Scandinavia.

What is not allowed on the first day of the Chinese New Year? ›

On the first day of the lunar year:

No washing clothes or hair or bathing. The first and second day of the lunar year is the birthday of the “Water God”, so you are not supposed to use water to show respect for the Water God. No sweeping the floor or taking out rubbish. If you do so, you are carrying your fortune out.

What is the lucky food for new year's Eve? ›

Foods like pork, greens, citrus and pomegranate are seasonal during the new year in the northern hemisphere, influencing the bounty of the holiday table. These traditional New Year's Eve and New Year's Day foods are believed to bring health, wealth and happiness in the coming year.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 5883

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.