Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is a time of joy, family reunions, and, most importantly, symbolic feasting. Every dish served during this festive season carries a special meaning—bringing luck, prosperity, and happiness for the year ahead. If you're looking for plant-based Chinese meals to celebrate, our ready-to-heat range allows you to enjoy traditional flavours while embracing a modern, sustainable twist.
Let’s explore the significance behind these auspicious dishes and how you can incorporate our vegan-friendly meals into your Lunar New Year celebrations.
🥟 Dumplings (Wealth and Prosperity)
Vegetable Dumplings | Sticky Rice Dumpling (Zongzi) | Signature Dumpling Soy Sauce
Dumplings are one of the most important foods for Chinese New Year, symbolising wealth and prosperity because their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots. In many families, making dumplings together is a tradition, believed to bring financial success in the coming year.
✅ What to Eat:
- Vegetable Dumplings – A delicious, plant-based take on this lucky dish, packed with fresh vegetables in a delicate wrapper.
- Sticky Rice Dumpling (Zongzi) – Traditionally eaten during festivals, Zongzi represents family unity and good fortune.
- Signature Dumpling Soy Sauce – The perfect complement to dumplings, adding depth and umami to every bite.
🔗 Order dumplings for your celebration here: Vegetable Dumplings | Zongzi | Dumpling Soy Sauce
🍜 Noodles (Longevity and Happiness)
Hokkien Noodles | Plant-Based BBQ Pork Noodle
In Chinese culture, long noodles = long life. Slurping on a bowl of noodles during Chinese New Year is believed to bring happiness and longevity. However, there's one important rule: never cut your noodles—doing so is thought to shorten your life!
✅ What to Eat:
- Hokkien Noodles – A hearty, savoury mix of noodles and vegetables in a sweet-salty soy sauce, symbolising a long and fulfilling life.
- Plant-Based BBQ Pork Noodle – Inspired by char siu noodles, this dish combines smoky, sweet flavours with silky noodles for a festive treat.
🔗 Celebrate longevity with these noodles: Hokkien Noodles | BBQ Pork Noodle
🥠 Spring Rolls (Wealth and Good Fortune)
Vegetable Spring Roll
Spring rolls are often referred to as "golden bars" because their crisp, golden exterior resembles gold bricks, making them a popular dish for attracting wealth and prosperity in the new year.
✅ What to Eat:
- Vegetable Spring Rolls – Crispy, flaky, and packed with flavour, these rolls are the perfect festive snack to welcome in good fortune.
🔗 Enjoy crispy luck: Vegetable Spring Rolls
🌶️ Hot and Sour Soup (Balance and Good Health)
Hot and Sour Soup (Suan La Tang)
With its signature peppery heat and tangy vinegar kick, Hot and Sour Soup is believed to help ward off colds and bring balance to the body, especially during the cooler months of the Lunar New Year. This dish represents harmony—balancing opposites just as the new year brings new opportunities and challenges.
✅ What to Eat:
- Hot and Sour Soup (Suan La Tang) – Packed with tofu, mushrooms, and bold spices, this is the ultimate warming dish for Lunar New Year.
🔗 Enjoy a bowl of harmony: Hot and Sour Soup
🍖 BBQ Pork and Pork Basil Buns (Happiness and Family Unity)
Plant-Based BBQ Pork Buns | Plant-Based Thai Pork Basil Buns
Steamed bao buns symbolise family unity, as they are often shared among loved ones during celebrations. Their round shape represents wholeness and togetherness—a key theme of Lunar New Year.
✅ What to Eat:
- Plant-Based BBQ Pork Buns – Inspired by classic char siu bao, these sweet and smoky BBQ buns bring joy and prosperity.
- Plant-Based Thai Pork Basil Buns – A bold and aromatic twist on traditional buns, representing the vibrant energy of the new year.
🔗 Add these buns to your feast: BBQ Pork Buns | Thai Pork Basil Buns
🌱 Modern Plant-Based Innovations for the New Year
Chinese Sweet and Sour Stir Fry | Green Curry Buns | Massaman Buns | Mushroom Buns
While traditional Chinese New Year meals focus on classic dishes, modern plant-based innovations bring a fresh approach to festive feasting.
✅ What to Eat:
- Chinese Sweet and Sour Stir Fry – A delicious balance of sweet and tangy flavours, perfect for symbolising harmony and fortune.
- Green Curry Buns – Inspired by fusion flavours, this dish brings a fresh perspective to Lunar New Year feasting.
- Massaman Buns – A rich, aromatic bun that symbolises abundance and indulgence.
- Mushroom Buns – Packed with earthy umami flavours, these buns represent growth and prosperity.
🔗 Try these modern classics: Sweet and Sour Stir Fry | Green Curry Buns | Massaman Buns | Mushroom Buns
Celebrate Chinese New Year with Plant-Based Tradition
Chinese New Year is all about gathering with loved ones, embracing tradition, and welcoming prosperity. Whether you’re hosting a full feast or enjoying a solo celebration, these ready-to-heat meals make it easy to enjoy authentic flavours without the hassle.
🥢 Order your plant-based Chinese New Year feast today and welcome the new year with delicious tradition!
🔗 Explore our full range of ready-to-heat meals here: Shop All
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
📌 What is the most popular dish for Chinese New Year?
Dumplings, spring rolls, and noodles are some of the most popular dishes, as they symbolise wealth, longevity, and prosperity.
📌 Are bao buns eaten during Chinese New Year?
Yes! Bao buns, like BBQ Pork Buns and Thai Pork Basil Buns, symbolise family unity and wholeness—perfect for sharing during festive celebrations.
📌 Can I freeze these meals for later?
Absolutely! Our ready-to-heat meals can be stored frozen for convenience and enjoyed whenever you're ready.
