Chinese New Year Menu Ideas

While attending an elaborate 12 course banquet at a Chinese restaurant is a great way to celebrate Chinese New Year, it's also fun to host your own Chinese New Years’ party at home. Here are a number of menu ideas to celebrate Chinese New Year - each menu includes at least one recipe that symbolizes good fortune or has other lucky connotations in Chinese culture. The menus call for Chinese tea, but feel free to serve alcohol as well - after all, this is a celebration!

Peking Duck Menu

• Oriental Pate or Jiaozi Dumplings
• Peking Duck
• Mandarin Pancakes
• Green Onion Brushes
• Sweet and Sour Shrimp (Prawns)
• Cold Sesame Noodles
• Sweet Red Bean Dessert Soup
• Chinese Tea
  

*While Oriental Pate is a fusion recipe and not an authentic Chinese dish, the intriguing combination of chicken livers, cream cheese and spices makes a delicious start to the meal.

Spicy Sichuan Menu

• Crispy Orange Beef or Kung Pao Chicken
• Sichuan Shrimp (prawns) - includes asparagus
• Szechuan Noodles
• Fortune Cookies
• Chinese Tea
  

Cantonese Classic

• Spring Rolls and Chinese "Seaweed" (bok choy appetizer)
• White Cut Chicken
• Sweet and Sour Pork
• Stir-fried Chinese Greens (Bok Choy)
• Steamed Scented Rice (optional)
• Almond Cookies
• Chinese Tea
  

Shanghai

• West Lake Beef Soup
• Cold Asparagus Salad
• Lion's Head Meatballs
• Yangchow Fried Rice
• Tea Eggs or Eight Precious Pudding

Family Feast

• Egg Drop Soup
• Lobster Cantonese
• Shrimp Egg Foo Yung
• Spicy Spareribs
• Stir-fried Broccoli Hong Kong Style

Good Fortune

• Winter Melon Soup
• Lettuce Wraps
• Cantonese Roast Duck
• Stir-fried Broccoli, Hong Kong Style
• Longevity Noodles
• Fresh Fruit
  
• Chinese Tea
  

Warming Winter Fare

• Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai
• White Cut Chicken
• Salt and Pepper Shrimp
• Chinese Chives and Sprouts Stir-fry
• Rice (optional)
• Chinese Tea

To learn more about "lucky" Chinese foods, see my feature on Symbolic Chinese Food and Recipes
Here is a handy list of Symbolic Chinese New Year Foods