Auspicious Chinese New Year 2026 Menus You Can Make at Home: Meaningful Dishes to Boost Your Luck in the Year of the Fire Horse

Sharing recipes and ideas for making auspicious Chinese New Year 2026 dishes easily at home, including noodle dishes, auspicious fish dishes, and desserts, along with explanations of their meanings to enhance good fortune throughout the year. The dishes are simple to prepare and carry symbolic significance to attract luck all year.

This Chinese New Year 2026, there is no need to rush to reserve tables at popular restaurants. You can easily create auspicious dishes with meaningful symbolism yourself at home. This not only saves money but ensures cleanliness and suits your family’s taste. Today, Thairath Online shares five easy-to-make wealth-attracting recipes.

Introducing five auspicious Chinese New Year 2026 recipes that are easy to make at home and carry good meanings for the entire year.

1. Auspicious Chinese New Year Dish: Stir-fried Longevity Noodles – Symbolizing long life.

Noodles are essential on Chinese New Year. It is believed that the continuous long noodles represent a long life and smooth journey through life.

Main ingredients:

• One pack of Longevity Noodles (yellow or white variety).
• 5-6 dried shiitake mushrooms (soaked until soft and sliced).
• One cup of shredded cabbage and carrots.
• Chopped celery stalks.
• Seasonings: light soy sauce, granulated sugar, oyster sauce, sesame oil (for aroma).

Easy cooking tips: Use cooked Longevity Noodles stir-fried with vegetables and shiitake mushrooms. Season with light soy sauce and oyster sauce. Important: Do not cut the noodles while stir-frying to preserve their auspicious meaning.

2. Auspicious Chinese New Year Dish: Steamed Fish with Soy Sauce – Symbolizing abundance throughout the year.

The word “fish” in Chinese is pronounced “yu,” which sounds like “surplus” or "having more than enough." Serving a whole fish symbolizes abundance from start to finish of the year.

Main ingredients:

• One whole snapper or sea bass (scaled and gutted).
• Half a cup of old ginger, sliced into thin strips.
• Chopped spring onions and sliced red chili peppers (for garnish).
• Sauce: 3 tablespoons light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, a little water, Chinese cooking wine (optional).

Easy cooking tips: Steam the fish on a bed of sliced ginger for 15-20 minutes until cooked. Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture over the fish, then garnish with spring onions and chili slices.

3. Auspicious Chinese New Year Dish: Chicken Boiled in Fish Sauce – Symbolizing career advancement.

Chicken symbolizes diligence and awareness. If you want success in your career, this dish should be on your table.

Main ingredients:

• 2-3 chicken drumsticks with thighs (or a whole chicken if for offering).
• Smashed lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves (to reduce odor).
• Cooking broth: 1 cup real fish sauce, 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (for color), 2 tablespoons palm sugar, water enough to cover the chicken.

Easy cooking tips: Boil water with herbs and seasonings until boiling. Add chicken and simmer over medium heat for 30-40 minutes until tender and the broth is absorbed into the meat.

4. Auspicious Chinese New Year Dish: Stir-fried Golden Peas with Shrimp – Symbolizing wealth and happiness.

Snow peas resemble money bags, and shrimp symbolize happiness and a thriving life.

Main ingredients:

• 200 grams fresh shrimp (peeled and deveined).
• 150 grams sweet snow peas.
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic.
• Seasonings: oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, a little dissolved tapioca starch (to give the sauce a glossy finish).

Easy cooking tips: Stir-fry garlic with shrimp until just cooked, then add snow peas. Season quickly over high heat to keep the vegetables crisp and maintain their bright green color.

5. Auspicious Chinese New Year Dish: Ginger Sweet Rice Balls – Symbolizing family harmony.

A dessert representing the love and close bonds within a harmonious and sweet family.

Main ingredients:

• One pack of frozen black sesame rice balls.
• 2-3 pieces of old ginger, smashed (or concentrated powdered ginger drink).
• Brown sugar (to taste).
• 1 liter of water.

Easy cooking tips: Boil water with smashed old ginger until fragrant and spicy. Add brown sugar, then boil the rice balls in another pot of water until they float, then transfer them into the prepared ginger syrup.

Cooking these auspicious dishes yourself this Chinese New Year 2026 not only ensures hygienic meals but also builds good family relationships. Simply choose ingredients with meaningful symbolism and cook with care to start the Chinese New Year full of happiness and good luck.