Chinese New Year 8-Course Reunion Dinner

by | Jan 19, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Overview

This eight-course menu brings together traditional Chinese New Year dishes, each carrying symbolic meaning for prosperity, abundance, and good fortune. From luxurious seafood to homemade bak kwa, these recipes create a restaurant-worthy feast perfect for gathering family around the table.

Course 1: Buddha Jumps Over The Wall (佛跳墙)

Symbolism

This legendary dish represents abundance and prosperity. The name suggests the aroma is so enticing that even Buddhist monks would jump over walls to taste it. Featuring premium ingredients, it signals wealth and good fortune for the coming year.

Recipe Overview

A complex soup featuring layers of luxurious ingredients simmered together to create deep, harmonious flavors.

Key Ingredients:

  • Abalone (dried or canned)
  • Dried scallops
  • Sea cucumber
  • Fish maw
  • Mushrooms (shiitake and/or dried)
  • Chicken or pork
  • Chinese ham
  • Ginseng (optional)
  • Bamboo shoots
  • Quail eggs
  • Premium stock (chicken or seafood)

Cooking Instructions

Preparation (1-2 days ahead):

  1. Soak dried ingredients overnight: scallops, sea cucumber, fish maw, and mushrooms in separate bowls with cold water
  2. Change water several times for sea cucumber until softened
  3. Clean sea cucumber thoroughly, removing any sand or impurities

Day of Cooking:

  1. Prepare stock by simmering chicken bones or seafood shells with ginger and scallions for 2-3 hours
  2. Blanch rehydrated ingredients separately to remove any remaining impurities
  3. In a large clay pot or casserole, layer ingredients starting with chicken/pork at the bottom
  4. Add abalone, scallops, sea cucumber, fish maw, mushrooms, and other ingredients in layers
  5. Pour in premium stock until ingredients are covered
  6. Add Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and a touch of rock sugar
  7. Seal the pot with foil or a tight lid
  8. Steam or simmer gently for 3-4 hours on low heat
  9. Adjust seasoning before serving

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours (plus overnight soaking)

Review

Buddha Jumps Over The Wall is the ultimate show-stopper for any reunion dinner. While time-intensive, the result is a deeply savory, umami-rich soup where each ingredient retains its texture while contributing to a harmonious whole. The abalone becomes tender, the sea cucumber silky, and the broth develops incredible depth. This dish truly sets an auspicious tone for the celebration.

Course 2: Stir-Fried King Prawns in Black Bean Soy Sauce

Symbolism

Prawns represent happiness and good fortune. Their curved shape resembles laughter, bringing joy to the household.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 500g king prawns, cleaned and deveined
  • 2 tbsp fermented black beans, rinsed and mashed
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 thumb ginger, sliced
  • 2 red chilies, sliced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Spring onions, chopped
  • Cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

  1. Rinse black beans and mash lightly with the back of a spoon
  2. Heat wok until smoking, add 2 tbsp oil
  3. Stir-fry prawns until they turn pink (about 2 minutes), remove and set aside
  4. Add more oil if needed, stir-fry garlic, ginger, and black beans until fragrant (30 seconds)
  5. Add chilies and stir briefly
  6. Return prawns to wok
  7. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar
  8. Toss everything together for 1-2 minutes
  9. Add spring onions and give a final toss
  10. Serve immediately

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Review

This dish delivers bold, savory flavors with minimal effort. The fermented black beans provide a pungent, salty depth that perfectly complements the sweet prawns. Quick to prepare and visually striking with the bright red prawns, this is a crowd-pleaser that doesn’t require advanced cooking skills.

Course 3: Stir-Fried Scallops with XO Sauce

Symbolism

Scallops represent wealth and prosperity. Their fan-like shape is reminiscent of ancient Chinese gold ingots.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 400g fresh scallops
  • 2-3 tbsp XO sauce
  • Mixed vegetables (snow peas, bell peppers, carrots)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • Salt and white pepper to taste
  • Cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

  1. Pat scallops completely dry with paper towels (crucial for good sear)
  2. Blanch vegetables in boiling water for 1 minute, drain and set aside
  3. Heat wok over high heat until very hot
  4. Add oil and swirl to coat
  5. Sear scallops without moving them for 1-2 minutes per side until golden
  6. Remove scallops and set aside
  7. Add garlic to wok and stir-fry briefly
  8. Add blanched vegetables and stir-fry for 1 minute
  9. Add XO sauce and Shaoxing wine
  10. Return scallops to wok and toss gently to combine
  11. Season with salt and white pepper
  12. Serve immediately

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Review

The elegance of plump, perfectly seared scallops meets the complex umami punch of XO sauce in this deceptively simple dish. The key is not overcooking the scallops—they should remain creamy in the center. The vegetables add color and crunch, making this both visually appealing and texturally satisfying.

Course 4: Butter & Salted Egg Pork

Symbolism

Pork represents strength and wealth. The golden color of salted egg yolk symbolizes prosperity and gold.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 500g pork loin, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 4-5 salted egg yolks, steamed and mashed
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 10-15 curry leaves
  • 3-4 bird’s eye chilies, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • Sugar to taste
  • Cornstarch for coating
  • Oil for deep-frying

Cooking Instructions

  1. Marinate pork with a pinch of salt and pepper for 15 minutes
  2. Coat pork pieces lightly with cornstarch
  3. Deep-fry pork in hot oil until golden and crispy (5-7 minutes)
  4. Drain on paper towels and set aside
  5. In a clean wok, melt butter over medium heat
  6. Add curry leaves and fry until crispy (careful, they splatter!)
  7. Add garlic and chilies, stir-fry briefly
  8. Add mashed salted egg yolks and stir to combine
  9. Pour in evaporated milk and stir continuously
  10. Add a pinch of sugar to balance flavors
  11. Add fried pork and toss to coat evenly
  12. The sauce should be creamy and coat the pork pieces
  13. Serve hot

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Review

This indulgent dish is a modern Chinese New Year favorite. The crispy pork contrasts beautifully with the rich, creamy salted egg sauce. The curry leaves add an aromatic dimension while the chilies provide a pleasant kick. It’s decadent, addictive, and always disappears quickly from the table.

Course 5: Fatt Choy Mushrooms with Broccoli (发财好市)

Symbolism

Fatt choy (black moss) sounds like “prosperity” in Cantonese. Mushrooms symbolize longevity, and broccoli represents jade and wealth. This dish is essentially a verbal blessing for financial success.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 30g dried fatt choy (black moss), soaked
  • 200g fresh shiitake or button mushrooms
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • Cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water)
  • Sugar and white pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

  1. Soak fatt choy in warm water for 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly and drain
  2. Blanch broccoli in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain and set aside
  3. If using dried mushrooms, soak until soft; if fresh, clean and halve
  4. Heat wok with oil, stir-fry garlic until fragrant
  5. Add mushrooms and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes
  6. Add fatt choy and stir gently
  7. Pour in vegetable stock, oyster sauce, and soy sauce
  8. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes
  9. Add broccoli florets
  10. Thicken with cornstarch slurry
  11. Season with sugar and white pepper
  12. Drizzle with sesame oil before serving

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Review

This vegetable dish provides a refreshing contrast to the richer meat and seafood courses. The fatt choy has a unique, slightly crunchy texture, while the mushrooms are tender and absorb the savory sauce beautifully. It’s healthy, meaningful, and surprisingly satisfying even for non-vegetarians.

Course 6: Steamed Garouper with Superior Oyster Sauce

Symbolism

Fish (鱼, yú) sounds like “surplus” or “abundance” in Chinese. Having fish at Chinese New Year symbolizes having abundance and prosperity throughout the year. The fish should be served whole to represent completeness.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole garouper (800g-1kg), cleaned and scaled
  • 3 tbsp superior oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 1 thumb ginger, julienned
  • 4-5 spring onions, cut into strips
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • Cilantro for garnish
  • White pepper

Cooking Instructions

  1. Pat fish dry and make 3-4 diagonal slashes on each side
  2. Rub fish with a pinch of salt and white pepper
  3. Place fish on a heatproof plate that fits in your steamer
  4. Top with half the ginger and spring onions
  5. Mix oyster sauce, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine
  6. Pour half the sauce mixture over the fish
  7. Steam over high heat for 10-12 minutes (depending on size)
  8. Fish is done when flesh is opaque and flakes easily
  9. Carefully drain excess liquid from plate
  10. Top with remaining ginger and spring onions
  11. Pour remaining sauce over fish
  12. Heat cooking oil until smoking
  13. Carefully pour hot oil over the fish (it will sizzle)
  14. Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Review

Steaming preserves the delicate, sweet flavor of fresh garouper while the superior oyster sauce adds rich umami depth. The hot oil treatment releases the aromatics of ginger and spring onions, creating an irresistible fragrance. This classic preparation lets the quality of the fish shine through—make sure to use the freshest fish possible.

Course 7: Steamed Chicken with Radish and Red Dates

Symbolism

Chicken represents prosperity and family togetherness. Red dates symbolize good fortune and sweet life ahead. Radish (菜头, cài tóu) sounds like “good fortune” in Hokkien dialect.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole chicken (1.5kg), chopped into pieces
  • 1 white radish, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 15-20 red dates
  • 5-6 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 2 tbsp goji berries (optional)
  • 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • Salt and white pepper to taste
  • Spring onions for garnish

Cooking Instructions

  1. Soak red dates in warm water for 15 minutes
  2. Blanch chicken pieces in boiling water for 2 minutes to remove impurities
  3. Arrange radish chunks on the bottom of a deep heatproof dish
  4. Layer chicken pieces on top
  5. Add red dates, mushrooms, and ginger
  6. Season with salt, white pepper, and Shaoxing wine
  7. Add 1/2 cup water to the dish
  8. Steam over medium-high heat for 35-40 minutes
  9. Add goji berries in the last 5 minutes
  10. Check chicken is fully cooked (juices run clear)
  11. Garnish with spring onions
  12. Serve hot with steaming liquid as a light soup

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Review

This wholesome dish combines medicinal benefits with delicious flavors. The radish becomes sweet and soft, absorbing the chicken essence, while red dates add natural sweetness. The steaming method keeps everything tender and creates a nourishing broth. It’s comfort food that also symbolizes health and prosperity for the year ahead.

Course 8: Homemade Bak Kwa (肉干)

Symbolism

Bak kwa’s sweet and savory flavor represents the balance of life. Its red color is auspicious, and sharing it spreads good fortune.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1kg minced pork (with some fat, around 20%)
  • 100g sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 3 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp rose wine or Chinese cooking wine
  • 1 tsp five-spice powder
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper
  • Red food coloring (optional)

Cooking Instructions

  1. Mix all marinade ingredients in a large bowl
  2. Add minced pork and mix thoroughly by hand for 5-10 minutes until sticky
  3. The mixture should bind together well
  4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight
  5. Preheat oven to 160°C (320°F)
  6. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
  7. Divide meat into portions (about 150g each)
  8. Place meat between two sheets of parchment paper
  9. Roll out very thin (about 3-4mm thick)
  10. Remove top parchment and transfer to baking sheet
  11. Bake for 15-20 minutes until partially dry
  12. Remove from oven and brush with honey
  13. Increase heat to 200°C (400°F)
  14. Grill/broil for 2-3 minutes per side until slightly charred
  15. Watch carefully to prevent burning
  16. Cool completely before cutting into squares
  17. Store in airtight containers

Cooking Time: 2 hours (plus marinating time)

Review

Making bak kwa at home allows you to control sweetness and quality. The result is tender, slightly chewy jerky with caramelized edges and a perfect sweet-savory balance. While it requires patience to roll thin and monitor the grilling, the satisfaction of homemade bak kwa—and avoiding the CNY queues—makes it worthwhile. It also makes a wonderful gift for friends and family.

Menu Planning Tips

Timeline:

  • 2 days before: Start soaking ingredients for Buddha Jumps Over The Wall
  • 1 day before: Marinate bak kwa, prepare and refrigerate
  • Morning of: Complete Buddha Jumps Over The Wall, steam bak kwa prep
  • 3 hours before: Start steaming chicken dish
  • 1 hour before: Prepare ingredients for stir-fry dishes
  • 30 minutes before: Steam fish, finish bak kwa
  • Just before serving: Complete all stir-fry dishes (they’re best fresh)

Serving Order: Traditionally, serve lighter dishes first, building to richer flavors, and ending with soup. However, for family-style dining, all dishes can be presented together.

Essential Equipment:

  • Large clay pot or casserole for Buddha Jumps Over The Wall
  • Steamer (multi-tier ideal)
  • Wok for stir-frying
  • Deep pot for frying
  • Baking sheets for bak kwa

Cultural Significance

The reunion dinner (团圆饭) is the most important meal of the Chinese New Year celebration. Families travel from far and wide to gather on Chinese New Year’s Eve, symbolizing unity and togetherness. Each dish carries symbolic meaning, transforming the meal into edible blessings for the coming year.

The number eight is particularly auspicious in Chinese culture, as it sounds like “prosperity” (发, fā) in Cantonese. An eight-course meal therefore multiplies the good fortune shared around the table.

Huat ah! May this feast bring your family abundance, prosperity, and joy in the Year ahead!