Hot dishes for Chinese New Year's Eve dinner

english.shanghai.gov.cn| January 21, 2025

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Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is an important Spring Festival tradition for Chinese families. It signifies togetherness, wealth and hope for the future.

Shanghai locals place a strong emphasis on Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, consuming cold dishes, hot dishes, and dim sum. The dinner is not just about quality ingredients but also about the flavor, appearance, and meaning behind the food.

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Sauteed Shelled River Shrimps 

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau]

The first hot dish to be served should be sauteed shelled river shrimps, as "shrimp" sounds like "welcome" in the Shanghai dialect, making guests feel truly welcome. Shanghai-style sauteed shelled river shrimps are simple, without additional ingredients, and seasoned with vinegar.

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Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish

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[Photo/WeChat account of the publicity department of Jiading district]

This dish is sweet, sour, savory, and rich in nutrients. Made with mandarin fish, pine nuts, corn, green peas, tomato sauce, sugar, and salt, it is both appetizing and good for digestion. In addition to other meat dishes, a New Year dinner isn't complete without a big fish! Every family seems to have their own way of preparing fish, such as sweet and sour mandarin fish, braised catfish or yellow croaker, steamed fish, yellow croaker soup… the list goes on! It is also important not to eat the entire fish during the New Year — some should be leftover, symbolizing abundance.

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Chicken, Pork, Winter Bamboo Shoot Shreds in Consomme

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[Photo/VCG]

Originating from Huaiyang cuisine, kousansi, or chicken, pork, and winter bamboo shoot shreds in consomme, is a staple of New Year's Eve dinners in Shanghai. The making of the dish requires skilled knife work, with pork, chicken, and bamboo shoots sliced into strips and stacked like a small mountain, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

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Deep-Fried Shrimp

 

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

With its easily-peeled red shells, tender meat, and sweet and fresh taste, deep-fried shrimp is simply delightful. The segmented contours on the shrimp shells symbolize progress and good luck.

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Braised Pork with Dried Bamboo Shoots

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[Photo/WeChat account: shanghaifabu]

The most memorable thing about braised pork with dried bamboo shoots is how it seems to last forever. It's normal for a large pot of this dish to last from New Year's Eve to the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese calendar. This dish is a staple of New Year's Eve dinners, with dried bamboo shoots absorbing the meat juices exceptionally well, making the fatty pork a perfect complement.

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Braised Pork in Brown Sauce

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

Every Chinese New Year, Shanghai locals can't resist a bowl of braised pork. The meat symbolizes prosperity, and a bowl of glistening braised pork in brown sauce signifies a year filled with success and prosperity in both life and career.

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Fried Cabbage with Fresh Bamboo Shoots

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

In the Shanghai dialect, the pronunciation of this variety of cabbage sounds like "eliminating bitterness", while bamboo shoots represent rising fortune. After eating this dish, one's life and work are believed to only get better in the coming year.

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Eel Slices in Sizzling Oil

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

Eel slices in sizzling oil is a classic Shanghai dish consisting of fresh eel slices served in sizzling oil and then sprinkled with pepper, making it an essential dish for many Shanghai families during Chinese New Year.

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Stir-Fried Celery and Lily Bulb

 

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[Photo/Xinmin Evening News]

With all the fish and meat consumed during the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, it's essential to have a balance of vegetables. Simple and easy to make, a dish of stir-fried celery and lily bulb adds a touch of elegance to any dining table.

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Eight Treasure Duck

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

Stuff ingredients like winter bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, and chicken into a duck, wrap it in tin foil, and steam until well cooked. It resembles a treasure trove, ensuring good luck for the coming year.restaurants-11.png

Yanduxian

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

Yanduxian, a beloved soup in Shanghai, features savory pork belly, tender trotters, and flavorful bamboo shoots in a rich and creamy broth. Its salty-sweet taste and crispy textures are irresistible.

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Shanghai-style Smoked Fish

 

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[Photo/WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center]

Shanghai's favorite smoked fish is made from grass carp, fried to a golden crisp, then quickly soaked in a fragrant soy sauce blend. This delicacy offers a delicious, sweet and savory flavor with a crispy texture.

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Stewed Assorted Delicacies

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[Photo/Xinmin Evening News]

The grand finale of the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner in Shanghai is usually a steaming pot of stewed, assorted delicacies with an incredible variety of ingredients. While each family's version may vary, egg dumplings are essential. They symbolize golden ingots, bringing good luck for the year ahead.

 

Sources: chinadaily.com.cn, Xinmin Evening News, WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center, WeChat account of Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, WeChat account of the publicity department of Jiading district, "shanghaifabu" WeChat account