Celebrate Chinese New Year
With Chinese New Year only days away, top TV chef and Amoy Brand Ambassador Ching-He Huang offers her top tips to help create a fabulous, modern Chinese New Year celebration.
Preparing for the Occasion
Always serve fish
‘Fish is always served at a Chinese New Year meal as it is an auspicious dish. Fish is pronounced 'yu' in Chinese, which sounds like the word for ‘plenty’ - so serving fish is a way of wishing your guests a plentiful year! Amoy has created a great steamed oriental fish dish, perfect for the occasion.’
Plan in advance
‘Creating a menu and time plan is a great way to stay organised when cooking for a large party. Keep the menu fairly simple, offering a variety of dishes that are tasty but can be made speedily. Plan out all elements of your cooking, allowing you enough time to mingle with your friends and enjoy the party too! Amoy has a great range of recipes and products that can help you create a truly authentic modern Asian meal, with very little fuss.’
Preparation is key
‘When hosting a dinner party, I always do as much preparation in advance as I can. I try and marinate my meat the day before the party, which not only frees up time, but also adds more depth of flavour. You could also cut your vegetables a couple of hours before you start cooking and store them in the fridge to keep them fresh. Preparation doesn’t necessarily have to be time-consuming; it could be as easy as removing Amoy Straight to Wok Noodles from their packets before you start cooking!’
Serve everything at once
‘Asian main meals tend to be several dishes served all at once. The easiest way to ensure everything arrives on the table piping hot is to cook them in advance and keep them warm in the oven or steamer. Make sure the heat isn’t too hot, and cover meats in tin-foil to stop them drying out.’
Key to the perfect rice
‘Cooking rice in stock is a great way to add flavour with very little work. When I serve my rice, I tend to top it with black and white toasted sesame seeds or sliced spring onions for a pop of colour. A really quick and easy way to add depth of flavour is to pour in a little Amoy Reduced Salt Soy Sauce after fluffing.’
Bringing the Occasion to Life
Decorate with Red and Gold
‘Red and gold are key colours in traditional Chinese New Year - red symbolises luck, whilst gold represents wealth. Bring the tradition into modern day by using red and gold napkins and tablecloths, and decorating your room with bright lanterns and streamers.’
Make Flowers your Centrepiece
‘Flowers are an important part of Chinese New Year. Create a centrepiece using orchids and bamboo, which together symbolise beauty, fertility and strength. Alternatively decorate with fresh fruit like mandarin oranges and apples as these are symbols for life and new beginnings.’
Baijiu Cocktails
‘Baijiu or rice wine cocktails are all the rage in Asia at the moment. Baijiu is a white spirit that can be used in the place of vodka in any recipe. Create a special Chinese New Cocktail by mixing Baijiu with cassis syrup and topping with a sparkling wine.’