Chinese New Year Appetizer Recipes

By Rhonda Parkinson

Updated 10/17/17

Food plays a major role in Chinese New Year celebrations. Pearl balls are frequently served at Chinese New Year celebrations. The round meatball signifies reunion, and this is traditionally a time for families to come together. egg rolls (spring rolls) are also popular—they are thought to symbolize wealth since the roll resembles a 10-ounce gold bar. And you'll often find families making dumplings together on New Year's Eve, particularly in northern China.

More Chinese New Year Recipes

  • 01 of 06
    Jiaozi Dumplings
    Chinese dumplings (Jiaozi) in bowl
    Lisa Linder/Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images

    In northern China, families spend the night before Chinese New Year preparing dumplings to enjoy after midnight. Serve Jiaozi dumplings with ​ginger soy dipping sauce

  • 02 of 06
    Spring Rolls
    Close-Up Of Spring Rolls With Sauce In Plate
    Joseph Perales / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Spring rolls symbolize wealth as their shape and color ​are thought to resemble a long gold bar. These spring rolls are filled with barbecued pork and vegetables.

  • 03 of 06
    Pearl Balls
    Tangyuan, Glutinous rice ball at food market of Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China
    Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images

    Pearl balls are frequently served at Chinese New Year celebrations. The round meatball signifies reunion, and this is traditionally a time for families to come together.

  • 04 of 06
    Lettuce Wraps
    Asian inspired lettuce wrap
    jjpoole / Getty Images

    The Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like rising fortune, so it is common to serve lettuce wraps filled with other lucky food. To turn this into an even more symbolic dish, substitute dried oysters for the chicken meat (dried oyster sounds like the word for "good").

    Continue to 5 of 6 below.
  • 05 of 06
    Potstickers
    Gyoza
    Hidehiro Kigawa / Getty Images

    These tasty pan-fried dumplings are perfect for Chinese New Year celebrations. Serve potstickers with soy sauce with ginger, hot chili oil or ​dumpling dipping sauce

  • 06 of 06
    Yuanxiao Dumplings
    A spoon of stuffed dumpling and decoration of lanterns, CG, Chinese Culture, Backgrounds
    IMAGEMORE Co, Ltd. / Getty Images

    Traditionally, these dumplings are served on the Lantern Festival marking the final day of the Chinese New Year season.