The Lunar New Year, aka the Chinese new year, is this coming next Friday, February 16th, the year of the dog, and it’s the perfect excuse to to pull out some of my favourite Chinese recipes in addition to trying some new ones! I am a big fan of Chinese cuisine, both traditional style Chinese and American style Chinese, ie. Chinese takeout, and luckily they are both easy to make at home! Below you will find a mix of both traditional and takeout style Chinese recipes that are really easy make and most of them can be made with ingredients that are already in your pantry! I always find that it’s fun to try to recreate recipes that I have had at restaurants and this is especially true for Chinese takeout where I can make the dishes much lighter and healthier than the takeout version and what’s more, the homemade version tastes even better! Whether you are celebrating the Chinese New Year or not, you really cannot go wrong with making any of these tasty recipes at home!
Recipes for the Chinese New Year
More Chinese
Looking for more chinese? Check out my Chinese Pinboard.
Really great post, I think I'll be cooking up a Chinese feast this weekend! Sharon
I love tofu and oh, I so incredibly muchly please dear goodness want some now.
I just love your recipes and your blog. Always very creative. I too will be posting about the Chinese New Year this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
I love your recipes and your blog. I am a subcriber and always get excited to see what you do next. I too will be blogging about the New Year this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
I'm definitely going to try the honey lemon chicken! It looks delicious and it seems simple enough. I'm new to your site, but I'm officially addicted! Kevin, you're awesome!
Mapo eggplant deceived me! It looks so scrumptious like some meat thing slathered in thick oyster sauce, but wait! It's eggplant in homemade mapo sauce!? I gotta try this out.
You got me extra excited for Chinese New Year!
I don't think I've tried any of these! Need to change that.
As usual, Kevin – you ROCK!! The photos just keep getting better and better and the dishes… well I'm drooling. This Chinese New Year could keep on going until the next one.
I am truly hungry now and don't know where to start!
thank you for this! i can't wait for chinese new year…
I LOVE chinese food, esp. Sichuanese. Given that we are vegetarians most of these listed here would be with tofu. Kung Pao and Mapo are like eternal favs. Can't wait to try the Mapo Eggplant (never heard of that one before!) and the dumplings. Yum!
love this recipe roundup…we are loving asian foods right now so i am getting lots of ideas!
Pauline: The eggplant make a wonderful substitution for the tofu in mapo eggplant!
I'm looking forward to cooking some of these deliciously looking dishes.I cook most of my meals at home and any new ideas are always appreciated. Could you bring from time to time some info about new or interesting grocery stores where one can get the ingredients mentioned in the recipes? I live in the greater Toronto area and when I'm to cook a Chinese or Asian dish I tend to turn to usual suspects in the city. It would be nice to know about other places, too.
Pat Nayar: Nice list of stores! For my Japanese groceries I normally head down to Sanko on Queen West. I like this small grocery store opposite PatMart and west a few blocks that is on the lower level for Korean grocery needs.
Loving all these Chinese recipes you've made Kevin! Traditionally, we have Chinese hot pot or a collection of "lucky" Chinese dishes for the New Year. I'm making some Buddhist Delight this year.
I'm going to pretend this is a buffet and I want it all!
The honey lemon chicken sounds amazing! Lovely presentations.
Please stick with cooking white people food
Kevin! I hope all is well with you. It looks like you are still making the tastiest recipes. Great collection of Chinese New Year dishes. I am loving that Hot & Sour Soup. YUM.
Oh my goodness, what a collection! I would love to try all of these!
Kevin, oh my gawd, I am SO impressed with your Chinese food repertoire!!! WOW!! Where do I start . . I'm seriously going to have to cook my way down this entire list! Love it all!!
Oh my god!! These look amazing!! But i cant eat pork and beef.. is there any other option of meat other than chicken avail for these? Needa try them!
Vanilla: Shrimp would work in a lot of these otherwise, lamb, turkey, etc.