Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is not the only New Year dish! What is Lo Hei? Mediterranean New Year dishes are delicious and nutritious

New Year's dishes are not just about Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, bacon and sausage, poached chicken, pan-fried golden pomfret, etc. This year's New Year's dishes will have a different flavor and experience the charm of the Mediterranean diet, including the use of oil, vinegar, and sauces in the dishes, which not only have a unique taste, but also allow you to enjoy the healthy Mediterranean diet. The following is a demonstration by Chef Rita, a well-known private chef in the world of Tipsy Kitchen, on how to combine Western Mediterranean oils, vinegars and sauces with Chinese cuisine, retaining the nutritional value of the original Mediterranean food, and designing delicious and stunning auspicious dishes for the New Year.

Mediterranean New Year dishes are served with sauce

Pesto is a must-have on the table. It is part of the Mediterranean art of living and an indispensable element of Italian cuisine. "Pistou" in the Provencal dialect comes from the Latin word "pestare", which, like the Italian word Pesto, means to pound or crush using a mortar. The following Mediterranean New Year dishes are taken from O&CO organic pesto and tomato salsa, which are high-quality ingredients produced in Piedmont in northern Italy. They do not contain preservatives and are suitable as the seasoning basis for exquisite dishes.

Lo Hei

Originating from a Chinese New Year auspicious dish from Singapore, Malaysia and the Nanyang region, Chef Rita cuts fresh sashimi into shreds with various auspicious vegetables, such as red and white radish, cucumber, fungus, onion, etc., marinates them with lemon vinegar, and arranges them on a platter. Finally, drizzle with yellow lemon olive oil for seasoning, mix well and enjoy. "Lao" is a homonym taken from the Cantonese word, which means making a lot of money. Therefore, when mixing all the ingredients, remember to scoop high and scoop a lot, which represents rising wealth and good fortune in the new year.

Full recipe

Lo Hei (Photo provided by O&CO)

Qibao Sour Golden Soup

Select seven auspicious ingredients, such as green onions (cleverness), celery (hard work), radish (good luck), etc., and then season the vegetable soup with pumpkin pesto and apple cardamom vinegar to create this sour and refreshing golden soup.

Full recipe

Roasted spring chicken with basil pesto and salsa

First, apply spice salt all over the spring chicken and its stomach. After 30 minutes, wipe off the blood with a napkin. Then separate the skin and meat of the chicken stomach and back. Apply basil pesto between the skin and meat and inside the chicken stomach. Put it in the oven and bake until the surface is golden brown. This is a roasted spring chicken with basil aroma. Dip it in tomato salsa sauce for a richer taste.

Full recipe

Smoked Braised Pork Knuckle

The New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is definitely not complete without the rich fish and meat that symbolize a good harvest and abundance. This smoked braised pork trotter with the meaning of reunion is first sautéed with olive oil onion and ginger, then add sugar and soy sauce to make the marinade, then put in the raw pork trotter and stew for about 2 hours and let it cool. Finally, spread the smoked barbecue sauce evenly on the entire braised pork trotter, put it in the oven at 160 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. It will be a braised pork trotter with a full smoky taste and tender skin and meat. When enjoying it, put the pickled white radish slices on the palm of your hand, pick up a piece of sliced ​​pork knuckle, spread a spoonful of barbecue sauce, wrap them up and eat them together. The refreshing, crispy, smoky, sour and sweet flavors burst on the tip of your tongue, which is very delicious.

Full recipe

Smoked braised pork knuckle (Photo provided by O&CO)

BBQ style smoked fish

This smoked fish, which symbolizes abundance every year, belongs to the Shanghainese cuisine. Although it is called smoked fish, it is actually fried and then braised until the sauce is absorbed. Shanghainese like to use fresh grass carp to make smoked fish. Rita Chef uses white pomfret with less oil, first removes the scales and cuts into sections, then applies salt to season it. After letting it stand for 30 minutes, wipe off the blood and then fry it in olive oil until the surface is golden brown. Finally, add water and smoked barbecue sauce, and cook the fried pomfret over medium-low heat until the sauce is absorbed and done. It can be eaten hot or cooled as a cold dish.

Full recipe

BBQ-style smoked fish (Photo courtesy of O&CO)

Jam rice cake

Put the Japanese rice cake, which means rising step by step, into a charcoal oven and bake until the surface is slightly browned. You can also bake it in an oven at 180 degrees for 7 minutes. Put a piece of nori into the freshly baked rice cake. Spread pistachio sauce or orange sauce from Sicily, Italy on the rice cake, wrap it with nori and enjoy. The wonderful taste is an amazing and delicious end to the rich New Year dishes.

Full recipe

👉Recommended reading: Mediterranean diet is not the only way to reduce the risk of depression! Nutritionist Li Zhiwei: Diet "Three Mores and Two Lesses" to Fight Depression

👉Recommended reading: More than 320,000 people suffer from dementia! Mediterranean diet can prevent dementia! Dr. Lee Yao-tai: 5 tips to stay away from dementia