We had so much fun shopping, planning and creating this menu. Thinking about having a Chinese New Year party this year? Look no further. Use this shopping guide, menu and all the links I've already sourced to have yourself a 美妙的时光
(Měimiào de shíguāng) fabulous time 🙏
Here are all the recipes from our 20th anniversary dinner party. Crispy chicken with honey garlic sauce, spicy cucumber salad, and a sesame carrot ginger slaw. We chose the theme based on our anniversary gift this year which was.. CHINA :) and our first date was Chinese food too! 🥡 Excited to share with you all the tips, recipes + our shopping guide to creating this intimate dinner party.
Dinner party MENU:
Appetizers:
(Pick these up at your local Asian market or hit up good ol Trader Joe's)
Pork Gyoza
Sechwan steam buns-bao buns
crispy egg rolls
Main course:
Orange chicken for the children ;)
Crispy honey garlic ginger chicken
Spicy cucumber salad
Sesame carrot slaw
Rice+mango of course ;)
Dessert + treats for the table:
Lychee
Yellow kiwi
Mini egg tarts
With blackberry cheong (Korean I know ;)
Coconut sticky rice+mango
Meiji strawberry cookies
Lychee jelly fruit bites
Jin Jin Jelly strips
Take home favor:
Green Guava candies
Norimaki arare rice crackers
(Seaweed wrapped crunchies)
Crispy honey garlic ginger chicken recipe:
Chicken Marinade:
6 chicken breasts - sliced into long strips or chunks
2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
Crispy Coating:
3 cups flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp celery salt
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp chilli flakes
Honey Garlic Sauce:
2 tbsp vegetable/avocado oil
2 thumb-sized piece of ginger - peeled and minced
3 clove of garlic - peeled and minced
2 red chilli - finely chopped (optional) or a tablespoon or two of your favorite Chile paste
1T. Lemongrass paste
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
pinch black pepper
To Serve:
Cooked rice
2 spring onions/scallions - sliced into thin strips
Black or white sesame seeds
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
stir fried or steamed veggies
(Bok choy, broccolini, bell peppers)
We love this cucumber salad as a side or as a topping for bimbimbap, along with a fried egg and any leftover roasted veggie in the fridge!
Spicy Cucumber salad recipe:
Ingredients
6 Mini/Persian cucumbers
2 tsp Salt-to dry out
Dressing:
1 T soy sauce
2 cloves Garlic minced
1 T Rice vinegar or white vinegar
1 T Chinese chili oil
1 T white granulated sugar
1 tsp. Sesame oil
Black sesame seeds
Green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
Sprinkle salt over cucumbers. Let cucumbers soak in salt for 5 minutes (no more than 10 minutes or they will break down). Rinse with cold water 3-4 times to completely remove the salt. Strain+set aside.
Combine dressing ingredients in a separate bowl.
Pour dressing over cucumbers and gently mix. Enjoy!
Our favorite carrot side dish:
2 medium-sized carrots, cleaned and peeled
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots into long, thin strips over a mixing bowl. Add all remaining ingredients: sesame oil, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, sea salt, and black pepper to the carrot strips. Toss several times to combine.
Serve immediately.
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