According to the Chinese calendar 2020 was the year of the Rat, which was all about survival (if we were lucky). 2021 was the year of the Ox which meant “anchoring ourselves in a new reality” (sounds right : / ). So thank goodness that 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. This animal is all about adventure and new possibilities. Sounds great eh?…. I used to love traveling but I’m not ready for that just yet. So if you are like me and want to ease yourself into back into things slowly, read on. This weeks post is about Bringing The East to East Lothian (Chinese new Year). Letting you experience Chinese treats from the East in your armchair.
At Chinese New Year the celebratory food choices are all about attracting good luck. In fact the whole celebration seems to be about this. And of course, warding off bad luck. This is also what the lion and dragon dances are all about. However, a far easier route is to just come down to The Mart Farm Shop and stock up on a few carefully chosen dumplings.
NO DOUBLE DIPPING!
China is a massive country so naturally different regions serve different New Year treats. But a whole swathe of Northern China agree, dumplings, or Jiaozi (饺子), are the best way to ward off evil spirits and mythical beasts. One of these is a very nasty, underwater unicorn. So if you want sunshine and rainbows please take note…
Eating fish for the Year End dinner symbolises “Niannian Youyu” (年年有余) which means “plenty of wealth every year“. As the chinese character for “Fish” (鱼) reads exactly the same as the character “Plenty”(余). So perhaps a batch of our scrumptious Hongs Seafood and Leek Dumplings are just what you need?
Hongs also have a range of Vegetarian Dumplings. Which is great because vegetables (菜) in Cantonese sounds like Wealth (财 cai), so are guaranteed to bring you “a clean beginning of new money for the year to come”. Other flavours include chicken and mushroom, pork and chive, lamb and leek and spicy beef and tomato which all contain vegetables. At a stretch. Best cooked in a bamboo steamer (see in store) and served with some kind of dip.
For easy dipping pleasure choose Lee Kum Kee Soy Dipping Sauce. But if you fancy making your own dipping sauce my favourite involves mixing 5 ingredients to taste. Squid Brand Fish Sauce, Full Moon Sweet Chilli Sauce, Amoy Sesame Oil and lime juice.
FREE FROM (BAD LUCK)
Unfortunately these treats from the East are not Free From. But don’t worry GF’s won’t miss out. Lee Kum Kee have developed a fantastic gluten free range of Chinese sauces. And given us some recipe suggestions too. You can pick these up in store. We also have a range of Chinese cookware. Steamers, woks, mesh noodle skimmers and of course chop sticks.
These sauces are for Barbecued Plum & Ginger Pork Belly marinated in Gluten free soy sauce, ginger and garlic and cooked in a thick sauce that combines plumbs with Lee Kum Kee Gluten free Hoisin Sauce and Lee Kum Kee Gluten Free Panda Brand Oyster Sauce. This will be a new recipe for me. I hope that tiger is on my side!
TAKING THE SWEET WITH THE SOUR
If you don’t want to push your luck with the wok, take yourself down to The Mart Farm Shop and try Lielas ready-made Chinese classic; Sweet & Sour Pork.
Firstly the pork is cooked in batter and then stir fried with fresh chopped veg and an absolutely fabulous sauce. I could share the ingredients but of course then I’d have to kill you. And I have a feeling that would be bad luck for all involved. I can tell you it tastes nothing like even the best local Chinese take-away. And also that today’s ‘taste test’ nearly stopped work on the shop floor. So get yourself down to The Mart Farm Shop next week and if your lucky there will be some left!
“Gong Hey Fat Choi” or wishing you a prosperous year!
The Mart Farm Shop staff : )
