Welcoming Chinese New Year with dumplings

Angelina Liu, Visual Media Editor
February 1, 2022

 

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Angelina Liu
Chinese Lunar New Year is a celebration that takes place on the first new moon of the year. Dumplings are a key dish enjoyed during this time as they resemble ancient gold ingots and represent wealth and prosperity.

Chinese Lunar New Year occurs on the first new moon. As a result, the holiday shifts dates as it adheres to the lunar calendar.

Chinese Lunar New Year is extremely important in Chinese culture as it represents the chasing away of evil and cleansing of the soul and body. Legends of the celebration are thousands of years old. The main legend often told is of the monster Nian who terrorized villages. Nian feared the color red, loud fireworks and fire. The people of the village decided to scare Nian away for good by pasting red paper decorations to doors, lighting fireworks and burning fire all night. These rituals began the celebrations that are associated with Chinese New Year. Dumplings (饺子) are eaten during this time as they resemble ancient gold ingots and represent wealth and prosperity in the new year.

Ingredients

Dumplings: 

  • 2 pounds ground pork 
  • 1 pound raw baby shrimp 
  • 2 packages of Chinese chive, diced 
  • 2 bunches green onion, diced 
  • ½ white onion, diced 
  • 8 dried shiitake mushrooms, diced 
  • 2 teaspoon ginger, grated 
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce 
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil 
  • 3 tablespoon oyster sauce 
  • 1 package pre-made dumpling wrappings 

Sauce: 

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil 
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce 
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped 
  1. Combine ground pork, baby shrimp, eggs, soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce and ginger. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours or overnight. 
  2. Sauté mushrooms and onions to release fragrance. Set aside to cool. 
  3. Combine meat mixture with mushrooms and onions. Add Chinese chive and green onion.
  4. Fill a small bowl with water. Take one dumpling wrapper and fill with a half dollar amount of filling. Pinch to close, ensuring it is fully sealed.
  5. Boil 10 cups of water and drop the dumplings into the water. After the dumplings come to a boil, add an additional three cups of water and bring to a boil.
  6. Chop garlic and combine with sauce ingredients  for dipping. 
  7. Serve with sauce and enjoy the Lunar New Year. 

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