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Celebrate Chinese New Year (or Just Eat Really Well) - from Vikalinka

Published 11 days ago • 2 min read

A Takeout-Free Chinese New Year Feast

Hello Reader

It's the start of Chinese New Year, a time that includes a lot of fun traditions. But as with any great holiday, it has to include gathering around the table, sharing great food, and starting the year on a happy note. And you don’t need a parade or firecrackers to join in.

This seems like a great opportunity to shake up our dinner routine with amazing Chinese flavours. And these recipes are a brilliant place to start. They’re comforting, colourful, and totally doable in a home kitchen. No special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients required.

This will include dishes that come together faster than a takeout order. Perfect for a cosy family dinner, a relaxed weekend feast, or even a themed night just because it’s Tuesday.

Whether you celebrate Chinese New Year or just love good food, these recipes are all about cooking something special, sharing it with people you love, and having a bit of fun in the kitchen.

(Want more? Check out all my Asian recipes here:)

  • ​Beef Chow Mein - Starting with a classic Chinese dish made of stir-fried egg noodles with thin, juicy steak. It's easy to adapt by changing the protein or vegetables.
  • ​Szechuan Chicken (Sichuan Chicken) - A spicy snap, crackle and pop of a Chinese dish. Ready in less than 45 minutes - including marinading!
  • ​Chinese Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) - An ancient recipe made modern. Juicy mouthfuls of boneless chicken thigh in a flavourful and syrupy sauce.
  • ​Bang Bang Shrimp - These ‘guilty pleasure prawns’ as I like to call them, are an irresistible mouthful of crispy fried shrimp drizzled in a tantalisingly tangy dip.
  • ​Mongolian Beef - Sweet and savoury strips of meltingly marinated steak, fried in a flash with zappy spring onions, ginger and garlic. So quick! So easy!
  • ​Chinese Chicken Curry - An aromatic takeout classic, packed with amazing spices and ready in just 35 minutes.
  • ​Crispy Honey Soy Pork Belly - My version of pork belly, a common cut of meat in Chinese cuisine, slowly braised in honey soy sauce with ginger and other aromatics.
  • ​Easy Dan Dan Noodles - In just 30 minutes you can get a dish better (and healthier) than takeout. Easy to make meat-free!

Wishing you a flavourful year ahead!
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Love,
Julia x

top down of a wok with stir fried noodles against a wooden background bowl of chicken on rice with a glaze, a piece being removed by chopsticks
wok of chicken in a sauce shrimp in sauce on a plate, with a bowl full of extra orange sauce
plate of white rice topped with strips of beef with a dark sauce, plus chopsticks plate with white rice topped by a curry with chicken and vegetables
slices of pork belly on rice with broccoli and bok choy bowl of noodles with chop sticks

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Vikalinka

Julia Frey, a London-based recipe developer and photographer

I am Julia Frey, a London based recipe developer and photographer, and Vikalinka is my space to share my food with the world. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get tried-and-true recipes delivered to your inbox!

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