4 Dishes for a Healthier, Happier and Wealthier Chinese New Year #1 Soy Sauce Chicken

Could this tasty chicken dish bring you prosperity in 2017? Our simple recipe makes it fun to find out

In China, different kinds of food have traditionally been associated with different kinds of success in life. Chicken and fish have always been a harbinger of prosperity; Dumplings denote wealth, Rice Cakes are said to be helpful in aiding a promotion at work and noodles are meant to be good for happiness. Sweet rice balls meanwhile, are said to promote family happiness.

Obviously you can take from all this what you will. What is unquestionable though is that Chinese food is tasty, nutritious and healthy – especially when it’s put together with the kind of love and care as the recipes in Kei Lum Chan and and Diora Fong Chan's new book China: The Cookbook

Chicken is a mandatory dish for New Year’s Eve dinner so if you’re planning a celebration on between January 27 and February 2 Soy Sauce Chicken is one dish you’ll want to master.

“Until recent times when food has been in relative abundance, chicken was served only on special days, such as birthdays, festive days like the mid-autumn festival and New Year, or as an offering to the gods,” says Kei Lum Chan. "The chicken thigh, considered the best part of the bird, is usually served to the elders,” he adds.

China The Cookbook
China The Cookbook

Chicken is pretty much a mandatory dish for New Year’s Eve dinner so if you’re planning a celebration between January 27 and February 2 this is one dish you’ll want to master

This Hong Kong dish serves four, takes ten minutes to prep, a further 60 minutes to cook, and is great for sharing. You can download the full recipe here, and for many more recipes for a healthier, wealthier and happier 2017 you can order a copy of China: The Cookbook here.