(Dan Tri) - In Chinese culture, the word "fish" means wealth and prosperity. Singaporeans believe that eating fish on New Year's Day will bring good luck for the whole year.
Fish is a popular and meaningful ingredient in Tet dishes in Asian countries. In Vietnam, fish often appears in dishes such as braised fish, steamed fish, or fish soup. Depending on the region, the way to prepare fish will be different but all retain the typical flavor of Tet.
Steamed Fish (China)
In Chinese culture, the word "fish" (魚 - yú) has a pronunciation similar to the word "surplus", meaning wealth and abundance. Therefore, fish dishes are an indispensable choice on the New Year's Eve tray. Chinese people often eat fish at the end of the year but will leave the head and tail until the beginning of the new year, with the belief that the new year will begin and end in abundance. In addition, Chinese people also love fish with names that have good meanings. For example, carp (jìyú) means "lucky", or catfish (níanyú) means "year of surplus". Fish is not only delicious food, but also conveys the hope for a new year of abundance and prosperity for the people here (Photo: cicili).
Fish dishes (Japan)
Fish dishes play an indispensable role in the traditional Japanese New Year's tray. According to ancient beliefs, enjoying fish dishes not only provides abundant energy, but also helps the mind to be more alert and clear-headed in work and life. Gomame (dried anchovies), Kamaboko (fish cakes) and Tai (sea bream) are three prominent dishes in the traditional Japanese New Year's tray. Each dish has a special meaning, symbolizing good things in the new year. Gomame (dried anchovies) in Japanese can be understood as "50,000 rice ears", symbolizing a bountiful and prosperous harvest. Kamaboko (fish cakes) stands out with its bright pink and white colors, representing the rising sun - a symbol of luck and a bright start for this country. Meanwhile, Tai (sea bream) has long been considered a symbol of luck and wealth, contributing to bringing good things in the new year (Photo: Japanese Cooking 101).
Yu Sheng Fish Salad (Singapore)
Yusheng (fish salad) is a salad made from 27 ingredients including vegetables, tubers, salmon, combined with many sauces and spices. Singaporeans believe that eating this dish on the first day of the new year will bring luck and prosperity. Each ingredient of Yusheng contains the meaning of wishing for a good new year. In particular, fish symbolizes prosperity, carrots symbolize luck, green radish is a wish for longevity, and white radish symbolizes promotion. Fish salad also has very sophisticated sauces and spices. Crushed peanuts symbolize gold and silver. Five-spice sauce symbolizes 5 blessings, a wish for a new year full of joy and luck (Photo: Food & Wine).
Braised Fish (Vietnam)
Braised fish is a delicate combination of fresh black carp and traditional spices such as galangal, ginger, Ban sauce, and lime juice. In particular, this dish is cooked for 10-12 hours in a clay pot with longan wood, creating a fragrant flavor that permeates every fiber of the fish. The long braising process over low heat helps the fish to be firm, absorb the spices evenly, and bring a unique flavor that cannot be confused with any other braised fish dish. With the harmonious combination of natural ingredients and family secrets, braised fish is not only a familiar dish in Tet meals, but also symbolizes the respect for tradition and the beauty of Vietnamese culinary culture. (Photo: Ha Hien).
It can be said that fish is not only the main ingredient in Tet meals, but also a symbol of abundance, luck and health, contributing to enriching traditional culinary culture not only in Vietnam, but also in Asian countries during the New Year.
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