25 Delicious Recipes for Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year)

By ↣Published On: January 16th, 2023↣

Celebrate the Lunar New Year 2023, year of the rabbit, with some of my most favourite recipes from all across Asia. From amazing Chinese chicken to tangy Korean tofu, spicy Thai beef and Fragrant Lao Curry and more. We’ll have you hopping into 2023 in style.

Chinese noodle dish for Lunar New Year

Lunar new year is our favourite time of year at Cook Eat World. We get to celebrate all our favourite Asian recipes. This year we’re celebrating all month long with tasty treats to make at home. It’s the year of the rabbit in 2023, and we have so many dishes that will bring in the new year in style. From delicious rice bowls to creamy curries and so much more, 25 delicious Asian treats that you’ll want to cook all year long.

What is Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year or Spring Festival) is a celebration of the new Lunar Year based on the ancient Lunisolar calendar from China. China originated the celebration, so it’s often simply referred to as Chinese New Year, but many Asian countries follow the same celebration—namely: Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, India, Philippines and more.

Each country has its own celebratory style and traditions, but all follow the same date which falls between January 21 – February 20. This year, Lunar New Year will fall on January 22 and will be the year of the rabbit!

The year of the rabbit

The lunar zodiac is split into 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. 2023 is the year of the rabbit. Those born in the year of the rabbit are said to acquire confidence, good reasoning skills, kindness, attention to detail, make great scholars and are good socialisers. Find out what Chinese Animal you are from the year you were born.

Good and bad luck foods for Lunar New Year.

All across Asia, special dishes are gifted to bring good luck. Citrus fruits like kumquats and tangerines and considered good luck. Lucky foods are eaten and celebrated such as fish, longevity noodles, new year rice cakes, dumplings, sweet rice balls, spring rolls and more. And interestingly there are many traditions of what NOT to eat for Chinese New Year like congee, lobster and even chicken (although I’ve heard conflicting reports on that one). One thing for sure is that you’ll be set for the feast of the year, designed to bring luck, wealth and good health. How will YOU celebrate the year of the rabbit? Here are my 25 favourite recipes to help you decide…

A Japanese pork rice bowl with chopsticks pork, spring onion, egg, radish and pickles.

Chashu Don (Japanese Pork Rice Bowl)

Fork tender sweet and salty pork belly (chashu) is spooned over a hearty bowl of Japanese rice and generously garnished with fresh radish, spring onions, pickles and a ramen-style egg. Are you ready for Chashu Don?
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A bowl of Korean Samgyetang Soup with whole Cornish hen. A dipping sauce sits beside the bowl.

Korean Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)

Fragrant and healthy, this life-giving Korean Ginseng Chicken soup will send joy flowing though your veins with every delicious spoonful. And who doesn't love a soup where EVERYONE gets their own chicken!?
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Shandong Roast Chicken with cucumber, chilli and cilantro

Chinese Shandong Roast Chicken

Shandong Roast Chicken is the most intoxicating combination of juicy, crispy skinned chicken, bathed in a sweet and sour black vinegar based dressing. It's heavenly, light, bright, fragrant and super easy to make at home.
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A green cocktail made from Gin and Thai Basil sits on a tablecloth of citrus fruits

Bangkok G&T (Gin Cocktail with Thai Basil)

A light, refreshing gin & tonic cocktail featuring Thai basil. A wonderful citrus, floral hot of South East Asian flavour.
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Fried tofu is lightly braised in Korean chilli (gochugaru) and topped with radish and spring onion

Korean Braised Tofu - Dubu-Jorim | 두부조림

Crisp and soft tofu sites in an intoxicating and vibrant chilli sauce. There's a world of flavour in this Korean Dubu Jorim recipe. Learn how...
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A bowl of Chinese braised pork belly

Chinese Braised Pork Belly - Hong Shao Rou (Instant Pot Style)

Soft, tender, melt in the mouth pieces of pork in a unmistakably Chinese sauce. Fragrant, sweet and salty - a perfect blend of authentic Chinese flavours.
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A bowl of vibrant orange Laotian chicken curry and spoon on a green batik background 

Laoatian Chicken Curry with Bamboo Shoots

This Laotian chicken curry is creamy, fragrant and packed with South East Asian flavour. The delicious addition of bamboo shoots to this vibrant sauce make it uniquely Laoatian and something really rather special.
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A bowl of Malaysian Red Curry - Ayam Masak Merah

Ayam Masak Merah 
(Malaysian Chicken in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

This vibrant, fragrant curry from Malaysia is bursting with South East Asian personality. A rich, tangy and spicy sauce coats juicy chicken. It's intensely flavourful and authentically delicious.
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Cha Kroeung Sach Moan (Cambodian Lemongrass Chicken Stir Fry)

Cha Kroeung Sach Moan (Cambodian Lemongrass Chicken Stir-Fry)

Beyond fragrant, this amazing Cambodian stir fried chicken has an amazing complex melding of flavour. A light, bright, zingy and delicious South East Asian treasure. Learn how simple it is to put together at home...
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Chinese soup with noodles and slowly cooked beef oxtails.

Chinese Oxtail Soup

A rich lip-sticking broth, brimming over with flavour, colour and life-giving goodness. A rich, hearty and warming soup with light, rice noodles and meltingly tender oxtail. A marvellous restorative soup any time of the year.
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Pork chops marinated in lemongrass and other aromatic Vietnamese ingredients. Served with a simple salad of cucumber, tomato and herbs. A Nước chấm dipping sauce accompanies.

Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops (Thit Heo Nuong Xa)

These fragrant lemongrass pork chops are succulent, sweet and the essence of Vietnamese cuisine. Grilling gives an authentic pop of char to these unique South East Asian delights.
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A plate of Sambal Udang (Sambal Prawns) with rice and a salad

Sambal Udang (Sambal Prawns)

Sambal Udang is the simplest, tastiest dish to make and simply packed with flavour. Sweet, spicy and super delicious. Learn how to make this Malaysian dish yourself at home.
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A bowl of Burmese chicken curry with fork and spoon

Burmese Chicken Curry

I am compelled to announce that this Burmese Chicken Curry is one of my absolute favourite South East Asian curries to make at home. Why? Where do I begin!?
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Chinese Chilli Oil Dumplings

Chinese Chilli Oil Dumplings

Soft, silky pork & shrimp dumplings in a spicy Chinese chilli oil - a perfect blend of fragrance and flavour in every bite.
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Beef in Thai Prik King chilli sauce with beans and kaffir lime leaves.

Pad Prik King

Quick, easy and full of Thai flavour, this chilli stir fry with beef and beans is an absolute delight. Sweet, sour, spicy and salty - it packs a punch! Learn how...
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A bowl of pork rib soup with soba noodles

Pork Rib Soup with Noodles

Juicy and meltingly tender pork spare ribs are bathed in the most umami, fragrant pork broth in this delicious Chinese inspired soup. Soba noodles continue the journey into Japan and add a wonderful nutty flavour and soft texture.
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A bowl of Vietnamese Thit Kho (Braised pork belly) with a whole boiled egg

Vietnamese Braised Pork Belly with Eggs - Thit Kho

Fragrant and hearty, this amazing and simple Vietnamese staple is jam packed with flavour. Juicy, soft pork belly is bathed in the most intoxicating lemongrass infused sauce - the addition of a boiled egg adds a clever, filling element to an already splendid feast.
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Chinese Snow Pea Shoots with Garlic

Chinese Snow Pea Shoots with Garlic

A quick and delicious stir fry will be on the table before you can say "Chinese Snow Pea Shoots with Garlic"
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a wooden board with Thai Crying Tiger Beef with Nam Jim Jaew Sauce

Thai Crying Tiger Beef with Nam Jim Jaew Sauce

Juicy marinated beef paired with an intense, spicy thai dipping sauce.
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A bowl of Laotian Nam Khao crispy rice salad

Laotian Nam Khao (Crispy Rice Salad)

A taste and textural senastion, this amazing rice salad from Laos is one of the highlights of South East Asian Cuisine. Wonderful crisp and flavoursome rice creates a base for fresh herbaceous elements alongside the sour fermented sausage 'Nam'. A triumph!
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A bowl of San Bei Ji - Taiwanese 3 cup chicken

Taiwanese 3-Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)

A burst of umami greatness is the most accurate summary of this classic Taiwanese chicken dish. Simple to prepare and a visual and taste sensation to boot. Learn how to make my homespun version.
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A plate of chicken egg foo young with gravy ion a platter with rice and chopsticks

Chicken Egg Foo Young

These fluffy and crisp egg pancakes are one of my all time favourite Chinese dishes. Chicken Egg Foo Young are a little retro, a lot tasty - learn how to make them at home…
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Thinly sliced ribeye steak is served in a salad of mint, cilantro shallots and spring onion in a spicy chilli dressing. Roasted peanuts are scattered over the salad. It sits non a bright blue floral plastic tablecloth like the ones in Thai markets.

Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua)

Where fresh meats fragrance and flavour. This amazing Thai beef salad (Yum Nua) is light, bright and jam packed with Thai flavours. Sweet, sour, salt & spice - it doesn’t get much better than this.
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Ground chicken combined with Laotian aromatics and spices to a form a dry, spicy chicken salad. The platter sits on a colourful, floral tablecloth - like the kind you find in South East Asian markets.

Laotian Chicken Larb (Larb Gai)

Larb is an extraordinary salad, a national treasure of Laos and it’s not hard to see why. Ground chicken is seasoned to perfection with aromatics and spice - a fresh, zingy pop of flavour. Larb is a truly unique dish to make at home.
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Babi Pongteh | www.cookeatworld.com

Babi Pongteh (Malaysian Pork Stew)

The aromatic delights of Nyonya cuisine are on full display in the wonderful Babi Pongteh, a bold, umami burst of flavour with meltingly tender pork and meaty shiitake mushrooms.
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Chinese noodle dish for Lunar New Year