Although the new year no longer seems, well, new, you don’t need to settle into the doldrums of winter on account of the solar calendar. (Who needs it, anyway?) In many Asian countries, the New Year is dictated by the first new moon and ends on the full moon, so the party will continue well into February.
And rest assured: just as there are many ways to say “happy new year,” so too are there myriad ways to eat your way to happiness. In partnership with the bold new Camry, we’ve discovered seven bold twists on traditional recipes that will help you ring in the Lunar New Year with a full stomach and a healthy dose of good luck.
Nian Gao
(or nin gou in Cantonese)
RECIPE
Ken Leung, Hungry Rabbit NYC
What is it? Loosely translated as “year cake,” it’s a steamed dessert that combines rice flour, almond extract and Chinese brown sugar to make a sweet, sticky treat, and is popular during the Lunar New Year.
Fun fact: In Chinese, nian gao is a homophone for “high year,” which portends good luck.
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Mứt Tắc (Candied Kumquats)
Flickr
RECIPE
What is it? Kumquats are trees that bear small citrus fruits. Certain varieties of the fruit, such as the oval kumquat, can be eaten whole (i.e., with the skin on). During Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, kumquat trees adorn living rooms in a symbol of good luck and fertility.
Try it with a bold twist: Simmer the fruit in warm, bold spices like ginger, cinnamon, star anise and clove for an extra punch of flavor.
One bold choice leads to another. Toyota Camry is encouraging you to make bold choices in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Let’s Go Places! Find out more about the Bold New Camry here.
