Depending on what part of the world you’re in, tradition says eating certain types of food will bring luck, prosperity, wealth, and more for the new year. This year, I think we could all use some good fortune in one way or another. Maybe enjoying one of these symbolic dinners for the new year will do the trick.
Black-eyed peas are one of the foods considered to bring luck if eaten on New Year’s Day. You can easily enjoy them by preparing Blondie Pussycat’s New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Pea Casserole.
“When I was growing up, it was customary to eat black-eyes on New Year’s Day for good luck,” explains Blondie. “I’ve been cooking some version of this recipe for over 30 years. It has evolved, as my taste has changed, but the basic recipe is buried in here.”
This casserole is perfect for New Year’s Day but, you’ll be finding excuses to make it all of the time.
Super hearty, it’s full of meat, rice, and black-eyed peas. Fresh veggies and Rotel tomatoes add a lot of flavors and a little kick. Layers of gooey cheese hold’s the casserole together.
I love roasting a pork loin because it’s easy. Turns out, it’s lucky too!
“I have served this at informal dinner parties and everyone loved it,” says Irana Grenier (Garden Valley, CA) of her Stuffed Pork Loin Roast.
The combination of savory meat, aromatic herbs, and sweet and tangy fruit in this stuffed pork is so incredible you won’t set your fork down until you devour every bite.
It’s easy to make and quick to prep, but impressive when served. Perfect for New Year’s Day.
Japanese tradition is to enjoy noodles because they’re thought to bring good fortune. So, Anne Jordan’s Dragon Noodles With Chicken are perfect to eat.
“This is one of my family’s favorite,” shares Anne. “It’s cheaper than eating out and better than most Chinese restaurants.”
You can doctor the sauce to your taste. This time, I added chopped nuts to the sauce and it had a great nutty flavor. The warm rice noodles soak up the delicious sauce.
Chicken, carrots, mushrooms, green onions, and the other goodies add to the flavor. Anne says you can use chicken, beef, shrimp, or a combination of the three. Next time, I’m going to try this with shrimp. Yum!
Since cabbage is green like money, it’s thought if you enjoy a bit on New Year’s you’ll come into wealth. Pat Morris’ (Augusta, GA) Comforting Cabbage-Sausage Stew is delicious and will warm you up.
“Yesterday, I had a bowl of this cabbage-sausage stew – it was so good,” reveals Pat. “The flavors mingle well together. And if you have any leftover the next day, the flavors meld even better.”
This easy cabbage and sausage stew is full of delicious flavor. The smoky sausage has a nice contrast of flavor from the mild taste of the cabbage. Tomatoes bring a bit of tartness, while the carrots add sweetness. Super comforting!
There are a couple of reasons why enjoying fish on New Year’s is important. First, the scales resemble coins which gives the idea of abundance. Also, fish swim forward and the new year is about moving forward.
“Quick, simple, and delicious,” is how Cosette Khoryati describes her Fish Fillets With Brown Butter (Pan-Fried). This dinner tastes indulgent, but it’s easy to prepare and not as heavy as it sounds.
Cod has a mild, non-fishy taste. Even a picky eater will love this. The light cod is pan-fried until crispy.
I loved the brown butter sauce that’s poured over the cod. It’s slightly nutty and has a hint of lemon. This is an easy dinner you’ll make again and again.
It’s hard to believe another year has gone by. But, I’m looking forward to seeing what the year ahead brings. Enjoying one or more of these symbolic dinners for the new year will be a tasty way to start the year. Happy Pinching!