On Monday, 8 February 2016, the Chinese lunar calendar marks a new year and the start of many festivities. This is the Year of the Monkey, and according to legend, those born during this period are great dinner guests.
Life would be too simple if every guest's zodiac sign is the red fire monkey, right? Such occasions are rare in real life. So we decided to give you a list of recipes which would tingle the taste buds of your guests, and make you the most loved person of the reunion family dinner.
Here's list of recipes that will ooze out delicious flavours.
Chef Susur Lee's chinese style pork salad
One of the main ingredients chef Lee's dishes is his imagination. The Toronto-based chef uses traditional Chinese flavours but makes his dishes contemporary. His pork salad is a wonderful combination of Asian and European cuisine. All you have to do is marinate a cut of pork loin in Chinese wine, five-spice powder and sesame oil, and allow it to bake in the oven. When it's ready for consumption, drizzle a dressing made with Dijon mustard, olive oil, vanilla bean and honey.
Click here for the recipe.
Kylie Kwong's chicken braised with soy sauce and shao hsing wine
If you've obsessed over Kylie Kwong on TV, now is the time to actually make one of her dishes. This wonderfully easy recipe only asks you to braise a whole chicken (skin-side down) in a pot that's simmering with shao hsing wine, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey and star anise. This dish is comfort food and one that will make you a legitimate generator of happiness.
Click here for the recipe.
Chef Ken Hom's steamed ginger fish served with egg fried rice
Fish is a staple of Southern Chinese cuisine and reportedly, a favourite of chef Hom's. This American-born chef's steamed ginger fish absorbs the flavours of lemon and orange zests which undercut the heavy, spicy flavour of ginger.
Click here for the recipe.
Chef Ching-He Huang's sizzling black bean beef with noodles
Noodles denote longevity, so of course they find a place on the New Year reunion dinner menu. Celebrity Chef Huang's dish is made with wild rice noodles, Thai red chilli, and rice wine, tossed with ginger, garlic and green peppers. The beef and the veggies, stir-fried with rice wine, hiss and sizzle in the wok and inherit a lovely, crunchy layer.
Click here for the recipe.
