Red Sticky Rice
The color red is always considered a symbol of luck and happiness. Therefore, red-colored dishes are often preferred at the beginning of the year to bring good luck for a new year.
Among them, red sticky rice is highly appreciated. According to folk beliefs, the red color of sticky rice comes from the natural color of gac fruit, bringing harmony and peace for the new year. If you are unsure about what to eat at the beginning of the year to achieve good luck, red sticky rice is definitely an excellent choice.
In addition to bringing good luck, red sticky rice also has many health benefits such as stabilizing the nervous system, reducing cholesterol, improving skin health, enhancing vision, and being good for sexual health. So, start the new year with this familiar dish right away.
Boiled Chicken
Boiled chicken is considered a lucky dish in the early days of the year. Boiled chicken is the most popular dish in the Tet feast in the North, Central, and South regions.
During Tet, Vietnamese people often worship their ancestors and the land by offering boiled chicken, expressing gratitude and respect while praying for a smooth and prosperous new year.
Depending on the family’s taste, boiled chicken can be prepared in many different ways such as coconut water boiled chicken, turmeric water boiled chicken, or steamed ginger chicken, steamed lemongrass chicken…
Watermelon
No New Year’s tray is complete without watermelon. With its round shape, this fruit brings fortune and luck. At the same time, the red color of watermelon seeds also brings lucky meaning, with “sand” in watermelon seeds being the homophone of “luck” in Vietnamese. Therefore, watermelon is an excellent choice for the New Year feast.
In addition, watermelon has many health benefits. This juicy fruit helps quench thirst and provides refreshment. Moreover, watermelon is rich in vitamins and minerals, helping balance the nutrient content in the Tet meal which is often high in protein, sugar, and fat. With low calories, watermelon is suitable for those who want to eat regularly without worrying about gaining weight.
Bitter Melon Soup
True to its name “bitter melon,” which means all the sorrows of the previous year are over, welcoming a new year with more luck and convenience. In the Tet meals, “bitter melon soup” is an indispensable dish, especially in the Southern region.
In addition to bringing good luck, bitter melon soup is a nutritious dish, especially stuffed bitter melon, with its delicious flavor, helping cool down and detoxify the body during Tet days. Many families also choose bitter melon as an ingredient for cooking fish hot pot or cooking pork ribs…
Fish Dishes
Fish dishes are also on the list of lucky foods to eat at the beginning of the year. According to the pronunciation in Chinese, the word for fish sounds similar to the word “surplus,” which means abundance. Therefore, eating fish at the beginning of the year will also bring prosperity throughout the year. In addition, it is believed that eating fish at the beginning of the year symbolizes “head up, tail down.”
In addition to the lucky meaning, fish dishes are rich in protein, healthy fats, and beneficial to the body. Among the many dishes on Tet, adding a fish dish will make your Tet day more wonderful and diverse.
Fruits with Round Shapes
Round shape symbolizes completeness and abundance; therefore, fruits with round shapes are preferred during Tet such as pomelo, kumquat, watermelon, apple, mandarin orange…
Many people believe that eating round and juicy fruits during the New Year will bring abundant happiness, satisfaction, and joy throughout the year.
Banh Chung and Banh Tet
These are two traditional Vietnamese dishes on Tet day, so they are also in the list of dishes that bring good luck. These two types of cakes also symbolize balance in life. Eating banh chung and banh tet is also a way for us to start the new year more smoothly.
Stewed Duck Eggs and Pork
Stewed duck eggs and pork is also a dish that cannot be missed on the first day of the year to bring good luck. The square pieces of meat combined with round duck eggs symbolize square, complete, and abundant in life, representing abundance.
Revealing the Amazing West Coast Fish that Can Move on Land
The World Wildlife Organization recently revealed a list of 6 enigmatic creatures – one of them was the mudskipper! As its name suggests, this unique fish has an incredible gift to survive in mud, but it’s also able to jump out of the mud and on land. Keep reading to learn more about this amazing animal!
Bitter Melon Soup for Tet – Enjoyed by Kids without Worrying about the Bitter Taste’>3 Essential Steps for Cooking Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup for Tet – Enjoyed by Kids without Worrying about the Bitter Taste
For a deliciously non-bitter bitter melon soup this Tet holiday, follow these three easy steps: first, remove the seeds; second, soak the bitter melon in salt water; and third, cut and rub with lime. After completing these steps, simply stuff the melon with your desired meats and simmer and cook as usual.