With Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, approaching next week, we can feel ourselves slowly inching towards spring and longer days. As most Asian cultures follow the lunar calendar rather than Gregorian solar calendar, Lunar New Year falls on the first new moon between January 21 and February 20, marking Wednesday, January 29 as the first day of the Year of the Wood Snake. Celebrations, lasting until the next full moon, are filled with delicious and symbolic dishes, longstanding cultural traditions, time spent with family and loved ones, honoring ancestors who have passed on, and—of course—the color red.
As each year is associated with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Wood Snake symbolizes grounded wisdom, adaptable growth, and transformation. Much like how the year has symbolic meaning, so do many of the traditional New Year foods. If you are looking to celebrate and acquire some luck, make some of these traditional Lunar New Year foods to usher in a prosperous year ahead: dumplings, DIY spring rolls, and steamed fish.
If you are looking for a classic dish that is easy to cook and said to bring you wealth in the new year, pick up some homemade dumplings from J Chong Eats at the North Asheville Tailgate Market. Dumplings are typically filled with minced meats and veggies and can be steamed, boiled, fried, or baked. J has three different flavors to choose from along with a tasty chili oil for dipping: pork, pork and shrimp, and veggie. If you miss J at the North Asheville Tailgate Market and you were lucky enough to get tickets before they sold out, find her at a special Chinese Street Food & Night Market at Highland Brewing on January 31 and celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake!
To call in more luck and wealth, make spring rolls at home—we are talking the fried and crispy kind! First, decide what you want your fillings to be. Find ground pork at all winter markets right now along with mushrooms from Black Trumpet Farm (North Asheville and River Arts District markets) and Smallholding Farm (Weaverville Tailgate Market), cabbage and other Asian vegetables from Lee’s One Fortune Farm (Asheville City and River Arts District markets) and Highgate Farm (Asheville City and River Arts District markets), and carrots and other winter veggies from Smallholding Farm. Heat one tablespoon of high-heat oil in a skillet or wok over high heat. Add two minced garlic cloves and a half pound of ground pork (opt out for vegetarian). While that is cooking, shred one large or two small carrots, one and a half cups of cabbage, and a handful of mushrooms of choice. Add to your skillet and cook for about three minutes, or until wilted. Add one teaspoon of cornstarch, two teaspoons of soy sauce, and one tablespoon of oyster sauce and cook for another minute or so until the liquid is gone. To fill and roll your spring rolls, pick up a pack of spring roll wrappers at the grocery or Asian market and make sure they are defrosted. Mix two teaspoons of cornstarch with one tablespoon of water to help seal the rolls at the end. Carefully peel a spring roll wrapper, place it smooth side down in a diamond position, and place a heaping spoonful of filling towards the bottom corner. Roll up halfway, fold the sides in, and then finish rolling. Seal your spring roll with the cornstarch sludge and repeat until you are out of filling. (If you need help, find many videos on rolling your spring rolls online.) Fry your spring rolls in oil on medium high heat for about one to two minutes or spray them with oil generously and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. You’re looking for that crispy golden color.
One of the most classic Chinese Lunar New Year foods is whole steamed fish. Fish is said to bring abundance, surplus, and prosperity. The steamed fish should be the last dish left with some left over to ensure surplus for the year ahead. Find locally raised rainbow trout from Sunburst Trout at North Asheville Tailgate Market, a variety of fish from Locals Seafood at River Arts District Market along with the perfect addition of J Chong’s Scallion Ginger Garlic Sauce. Find a number of authentic steamed fish recipes online and be sure to leave some fish at the end for good fortune!
This time of year, markets may need to make adjustments or cancellations due to unpredictable weather. Keep up-to-date with your favorite markets through their social media and newsletters.
Area farmers tailgate markets take place throughout the region. As always, you can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.