Today is the 7th day of Chinese New Year. Chinese traditional call it 'Man's day', meaning the birthday of everybody. One of the Hong Kong Cantonese traditions is to eat congee. We've therefore decided to cook congee at home. In fact, we eat congee every year on this same day.
Congee in Cantonese is called 粥 which sounds like 足 which means 'satisfaction', meaning we are happy with what we have. Make good sense? That's why we eat congee on this everybody's birthday.
Anna eating congee at home on the 7th day of Chinese New Year
We've put lecttuce and fish balls in the congee. These are associated with good meaning as well. Fish - surplus 魚(餘), Lecttuce - create wealth 生菜(生財). See my big fish ball!!Congee with Lecttuce and Fish Balls 生財鯪魚球粥
Here are the other foods we eat during Chinese New Year.Assorted veggies cooked with preserved beancurd. This of course has a good meaning as well - 開齋 means 'a good start'.
Assorted Vegetables 羅漢齋
Candies Platter is what we prepare at home to welcome visiting friends and relatives. Yes, home visit is another Chinese New Year Tradition here in Hong Kong. The candies platter can be very creative. But roasted mellon seeds are among the musts.Candies Platter 全盒
There are many kinds of roasted mellon seeds - black, red and white.
Dim Sum is a must. Here is what we had:
Puddings - growth 糕(高) - turnip pudding (see my previsou post); on the table, there were two kinds of puddings - the sticky one and the spongy one.
Pig's tongue - profit 利
Fish ball - surplus 魚(餘)
Oyster - good business 豪士(好市)
Hairy vegetable - lucky money 髮菜(發財)
Let's have a closer look.
Dumplings with pig's tongue, oyster and hairy vegetable
發財好市大利
Fish balls with hairy vegetable 髮菜鯪魚球
恭喜發財!Happy New Year!
Hong Kong Food Blog - Hong Kong Chinese New Year Foods
