Adam Liaw's Chinese New Year feast

Adam Liaw

June 16, 2016

Lucky parcels: Fried spinach and dried shrimp wontons <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/spinach-and-dried-shrimp-wontons-20160202-49w26.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 1 / 32Lucky parcels: Fried spinach and dried shrimp wontons (recipe here).William Meppem

Steamed Murray Cod with red chilli oil - the oil represents fire in the 2016 Chinese zodiac <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/steamed-murray-cod-with-red-chilli-oil-20160202-49w21.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 2 / 32Steamed Murray Cod with red chilli oil - the oil represents fire in the 2016 Chinese zodiac (recipe here).William Meppem

Dragon and phoenix longevity noodles - the two great mythical animals of Chinese legend are represented in this dish along with long noodles to ensure a long life <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/dragon-and-phoenix-longevity-noodles-20160202-49w2e.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 3 / 32Dragon and phoenix longevity noodles - the two great mythical animals of Chinese legend are represented in this dish along with long noodles to ensure a long life (recipe here).William Meppem

Yunnan barbecue spare ribs with black vinegar sauce <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/yunnan-barbecue-spare-ribs-with-black-vinegar-sauce-20151208-47h2l.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 4 / 32Yunnan barbecue spare ribs with black vinegar sauce (recipe here).William Meppem

Red-braised 'lion's heads' - these giant meatballs represent luck, prosperity, longevity and happiness <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/redbraised-lions-heads-20160202-49w2a.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 5 / 32Red-braised 'lion's heads' - these giant meatballs represent luck, prosperity, longevity and happiness (recipe here).William Meppem

Tongue-tingling salt and (Sichuan) pepper squid <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/salt-and-pepper-squid-with-aioli-20151027-457dm.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 6 / 32Tongue-tingling salt and (Sichuan) pepper squid (recipe here).William Meppem

Chicken stir-fried in XO sauce <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/chicken-stirfried-in-xo-sauce-20140707-3bh8i.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 7 / 32Chicken stir-fried in XO sauce (recipe here).William Meppem

Adam Liaw's salmon sang choy bao is an update on a classic Chinese dish <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/salmon-sang-choy-bao-20151215-47ujp.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 8 / 32Adam Liaw's salmon sang choy bao is an update on a classic Chinese dish (recipe here).William Meppem

Barbecued snapper with black beans and salted chillies (prepare the chillies in advance) <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/barbecued-snapper-with-black-beans-and-salted-chillies-20151208-47h2u.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 9 / 32Barbecued snapper with black beans and salted chillies (prepare the chillies in advance) (recipe here).William Meppem

Orange marmalade fried ice-cream with chocolate sauce - Oranges are symbols of wealth and good luck around Chinese New Year. So there's no need to feel guilty about eating fried ice-cream if it's lucky, right? <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/orange-marmalade-fried-icecream-20160202-49w2l.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 10 / 32Orange marmalade fried ice-cream with chocolate sauce - Oranges are symbols of wealth and good luck around Chinese New Year. So there's no need to feel guilty about eating fried ice-cream if it's lucky, right? (recipe here).William Meppem

Braised wagyu in home-made XO chilli sauce <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/baised-wagyu-in-homemade-xo-chilli-sauce-20130603-2nku1.html?rand=1391055495706"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 11 / 32Braised wagyu in home-made XO chilli sauce (recipe here).William Meppem

Neil Perry's crisp Chinese-style chicken legs <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/crispy-chinesestyle-chicken-legs-20140114-30sg5.html?rand=1391055324939"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 12 / 32Neil Perry's crisp Chinese-style chicken legs (recipe here).William Meppem

Textural and spicy: Hot beef and tofu <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/spicy-hot-beef-and-tofu-20140114-30shg.html?rand=1391055658585"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 13 / 32Textural and spicy: Hot beef and tofu (recipe here).William Meppem

Video and recipe: Watch Adam Liaw cook Asian greens like a Chinese restaurant <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipes-from-adam-liaws-asian-cookery-school-20150912-gjkt47.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 14 / 32Video and recipe: Watch Adam Liaw cook Asian greens like a Chinese restaurant (recipe here).Supplied

Seasonal mango gives Peking duck a tangy, textural lift <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/twiceroasted-peking-duck-with-mango-20131104-2wwaj.html?rand=1391055581790"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 15 / 32Seasonal mango gives Peking duck a tangy, textural lift (recipe here).William Meppem

Spice up a banquet with this tasty black pepper and chilli lamb <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/black-pepper-and-chilli-lamb-20130807-2rfa6.html?rand=1391055514917"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 16 / 32Spice up a banquet with this tasty black pepper and chilli lamb (recipe here).William Meppem

Chilli chicken with chestnuts, black funghi and celery <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/chilli-chicken-with-chestnuts-black-funghi-and-celery-20150504-3vbik.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 17 / 32Chilli chicken with chestnuts, black funghi and celery (recipe here).William Meppem

Karen Martini's Chinese cabbage, shiitake and tofu salad <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/chinese-cabbage-shiitake-and-tofu-salad-20130205-2dvqp.html?rand=1391055698153"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 18 / 32Karen Martini's Chinese cabbage, shiitake and tofu salad (recipe here).Marina Oliphant

Stir-fried scallops with beans and oyster sauce <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/stirfried-sea-scallops-and-beans-with-oyster-sauce-20121123-29u0o.html?rand=1391055829507"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 19 / 32Stir-fried scallops with beans and oyster sauce (recipe here).William Meppem

Perfect parcels: Prawn wontons with chilli oil and soy sauce <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/prawn-wontons-with-chilli-oil-and-soy-sauce-20130425-2ih0p.html?rand=1391055948919"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 20 / 32Perfect parcels: Prawn wontons with chilli oil and soy sauce (recipe here).William Meppem

Stuffed eggplant with black bean sauce <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/stuffed-eggplant-with-black-bean-sauce-20130917-2tvyx.html?rand=1391055547990"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 21 / 32Stuffed eggplant with black bean sauce (recipe here).William Meppem

Aromatic red-braised pork belly <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/redbraised-pork-belly-20121123-29u6p.html?rand=1391056199584"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 22 / 32Aromatic red-braised pork belly (recipe here).William Meppem

Brigitte Hafner's Sichuan spicy pork and noodles <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/sichuan-spicy-pork-and-noodles-20121123-29uu3.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 23 / 32Brigitte Hafner's Sichuan spicy pork and noodles (recipe here).Marina Oliphant

Simple sweet corn and chicken soup to start <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/sweet-corn-and-chicken-soup-20121123-29wdv.html?rand=1391055782791"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 24 / 32Simple sweet corn and chicken soup to start (recipe here).Natalie Boog

Wok-fried fish with Chinese sausage, chilli and ginger <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/wokfried-fish-with-lap-cheong-chilli-and-ginger-20121123-29ulu.html?rand=1391055981458"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 25 / 32Wok-fried fish with Chinese sausage, chilli and ginger (recipe here).Marina Oliphant

Neil Perry's braised pork with water chestnuts. <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/braised-pork-with-water-chestnuts-20121123-29tsg.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 26 / 32Neil Perry's braised pork with water chestnuts. (recipe here).WILLIAM MEPPEM

Caroline Velik's caramelised pork belly <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/caramelised-pork-belly-20121123-29tt8.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 27 / 32Caroline Velik's caramelised pork belly (recipe here).Marina Oliphant

Steve Manfredi's Chinese-style dry-seared beans <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/chinesestyle-dryseared-beans-20121123-29w3d.html?rand=1360200976180"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 28 / 32Steve Manfredi's Chinese-style dry-seared beans (recipe here).Supplied

Stephanie Alexander's red cooked trotters with chicken wings and chestnuts <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/red-cooked-trotters-with-chicken-wings-and-chestnuts-20121123-29van.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 29 / 32Stephanie Alexander's red cooked trotters with chicken wings and chestnuts (recipe here).Marina Oliphant

Karen Martini's fried rice with chicken, ginger and egg <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/fried-rice-with-chicken-ginger-and-egg-20121115-29ef3.html?rand=1391055754607"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 30 / 32Karen Martini's fried rice with chicken, ginger and egg (recipe here).Marina Oliphant

For a sweet finish, try this Adam Liaw's spin on a Western Chinese restaurant classic; fried ice cream <a href="http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/fried-icecream-20150615-3xsyp.html"><b>(recipe here)</b></a>. — 31 / 32For a sweet finish, try this Adam Liaw's spin on a Western Chinese restaurant classic; fried ice cream (recipe here).William Meppem

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My favourite thing about Chinese New Year is how ordinary foods are magically turned into lucky charms.

As well as being tasty, long noodles now also bring you long life. The more dumplings you chow down the more gold and riches you attract. Even chucking a meatball onto your plate can be considered auspicious.

Dragon and phoenix longevity noodles.William Meppem

Don't worry if you're a bit sceptical, the popular foods of Chinese New Year are more tradition than superstition and, even if you're wrong, a bit of extra good luck can't hurt anyone.

Here's a five-course banquet that's both delicious and auspicious.

Dragon and phoenix longevity noodles

The two great mythical animals of Chinese legend – the dragon and the phoenix – are represented in this dish along with long noodles to ensure a long life.

Recipe here

Steamed Murray cod with red chilli oil

This version of the classic Chinese steamed fish is covered with a vibrant red chilli oil to represent fire in the 2016 Chinese zodiac.

Recipe here

Spinach and dried shrimp wontons

These wontons are very lucky during the new year period, as their shape resembles ancient Chinese sycee gold ingots.

Recipe here

Red-braised lion's heads

Each of the four giant meatballs in this dish symbolises one of luck, prosperity, longevity and happiness. Which one will you get?

Recipe here

Orange marmalade fried ice-cream with butter chocolate sauce.William Meppem

Orange marmalade fried ice-cream with chocolate sauce

Oranges and tangerines are symbols of wealth and good luck around Chinese New Year. There's no need to feel guilty about eating fried ice-cream if it's lucky, right?

Recipe here

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Adam Liaw is a cookbook author and food writer, co-host of Good Food Kitchen and former MasterChef winner.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/recipes/adam-liaws-chinese-new-year-feast-20160202-gmjqaj.html