Top 10 Recipes To Celebrate Lunar New Year
Published on 27th Jan, 2026
As the first new moon of the lunar calendar rises, the Lunar New Year begins, and 2026 welcomes the year of the Horse. It’s one of the world’s most celebrated festivals, marked by vibrant street parades, red lanterns, and, most importantly, extraordinary food.
Sharing Lunar New Year food with family and friends is more than just a meal; it’s an opportunity to celebrate with family, welcoming luck and abundance for the year ahead. Every dish served carries a specific meaning, with ingredients chosen to invite luck, health, and prosperity into the home. Whether you are hosting a full Lunar New Year dinner party or simply want to try some traditional Lunar New Year recipes at home, these ten dishes offer a perfect balance of tradition and flavour.
Hot and Sour Soup
Vegetables like bamboo shoots are a staple in Lunar New Year dishes as they represent longevity and strength. If you’ve never cooked with them before, this Hot and Sour Soup is the perfect introduction. It’s a warming, tangy broth that offers a satisfying crunch in every spoonful.
Serves: 4 | Ready in: 20 mins
Easy Vegetable Spring Rolls
These golden parcels are traditionally eaten during the Spring Festival to celebrate the season’s arrival. Because of their shape and colour, spring rolls symbolise wealth and good fortune, as they are said to resemble bars of gold. These easy Veg Spring Rolls are a great, naturally vegan addition to any spread, and you can even cook them in the Airfryer!
Makes: 10-12 rolls | Ready in: 20 mins
Sticky Lime and Miso Pork Belly Strips
In many cultures, a roasted pig symbolises peace and family unity. These Pork Belly Strips offer a modern twist on tradition, cooked in a sweet and savoury miso marinade that caramelises beautifully. Finished with fresh spring onions and sesame, they are as visually impressive as they are delicious.
Serves: 4 | Ready in: 1 hr 10 mins
Hot Honey & Ginger Duck Stir-Fry
Duck is often served at the Lunar New Year to represent loyalty and partnership. This Stir-Fry recipe elevates a quick weeknight meal with a trending hot honey glaze that cuts through the richness of the duck. It’s a restaurant-quality fakeaway that can be on the table in under 20 minutes.
Serves: 2 | Ready in: 20 mins
Red Tofu Curry
Tofu is a humble but essential part of Lunar New Year food, symbolising happiness and fortune for the whole family. This Red Tofu Curry is a fragrant dish that makes for a hearty, balanced main course for those looking for plant-based options.
Serves: 4 | Ready in: 4 hrs
Chicken Pad Thai
Chicken is a popular choice for a Lunar New Year dinner because its pronunciation in Mandarin is similar to the word for "prosperity." This Pad Thai is a crowd-pleaser, combining tender chicken with the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and lime-fresh flavours.
Serves: 2 | Ready in: 20 mins
Pork & Kimchi Dumplings with Dipping Sauce
Regardless of the region, dumplings are an essential tradition. Their shape resembles ancient gold ingots, making them a powerful symbol of wealth. These easy homemade dumplings feature a zesty kimchi kick, and whether you fry your gyoza for a crispy base or steam them, they are always a highlight of the feast.
Makes: 20-24 dumplings | Ready in: 30 mins
Longevity Noodles
To symbolise a long, healthy life, these noodles are served much longer than usual and are left uncut. Typically made from wheat for strength, they can be stir-fried with sesame and ginger for a delicious, symbolic dish. Just remember to slurp the entire strand, it’s considered lucky!
Serves: 2 | Ready in: 48 mins
Three-Green Stir Fry with Sesame Fish
An indispensable guest at the table, fish represents surplus and abundance. Tradition dictates leaving a little leftover for the next day to signify that your prosperity will overflow throughout the year. This sesame fish with fresh greens is a light, elegant way to honour the custom.
Serves: 4 | Ready in: 25 mins
Sweet & Spicy Melon Salad
"Prosperity fruits" like oranges, tangerines, and melons are often gifted and eaten to symbolise family hope and wealth. This salad uses cantaloupe and oranges with a honey-chilli dressing, offering a refreshing, zesty element to your celebration.
Serves: 4 | Ready in: 25 mins
Whether you’re a seasoned pro at folding dumplings or trying your first stir-fry, we have everything you need to make this Year of the Horse special. Explore even more Lunar New Year recipes here.
