Holiday Recipes/Lunar New Year
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Lunar New Year Recipes

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with auspicious dishes. Dumplings, noodles, and festive favorites symbolizing luck and prosperity.

224 recipes5 countriesJanuary

Angola(14)

Equatorial Guinea(12)

Sopa de Pescado con Jengibre - Equatorial Guinea traditional dish

Sopa de Pescado con Jengibre

A fragrant and light fish soup, infused with the warmth of ginger and aromatic herbs, often prepared with local white fish and vegetables.

50 minutesEasy
Pescado Frito con Plátanos Maduros - Equatorial Guinea traditional dish

Pescado Frito con Plátanos Maduros

A classic and beloved dish in Equatorial Guinea, Pescado Frito con Plátanos Maduros features perfectly fried fish, crispy on the outside and tender within, served alongside sweet, caramelized ripe plantains. This combination offers a delightful balance of savory and sweet flavors.

50 minutesMedium
Pambota - Equatorial Guinea traditional dish

Pambota

Pambota is a rich and flavorful soup originating from the Ndowé ethnic group, featuring a base of palm kernel extract, infused with the smoky depth of smoked fish. It's a unique delicacy with an intense flavor, often enjoyed as a hearty meal.

1 hour 55 minutesChallenging
Mbongo Vieja - Equatorial Guinea traditional dish

Mbongo Vieja

A hearty and flavorful stew featuring firm white fish cooked with a rich blend of vegetables, often including tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers, seasoned with local spices. It's a staple dish that showcases the importance of seafood in Equatorial Guinean cuisine.

60 minutesMedium
Sopa de Pescado y Plátano Verde - Equatorial Guinea traditional dish

Sopa de Pescado y Plátano Verde

A hearty and flavorful fish soup made with green plantains, fish, and aromatic vegetables. The green plantains break down to create a thick, comforting broth, making this a staple dish.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Sopa de Tomate y Pescado - Equatorial Guinea traditional dish

Sopa de Tomate y Pescado

A flavorful and hearty fish soup with a tomato base, featuring a blend of local spices and fresh vegetables. This dish is a comforting staple, often enjoyed as a main meal.

1 hourMedium

Ghana(10)

Fetri Detsi - Ghana traditional dish

Fetri Detsi

Fetri Detsi is a traditional Ewe (Volta Region of Ghana) okra soup, often prepared without oil for a lighter, healthier version. It's known for its characteristic slimy texture and is packed with the flavors of various proteins like fish, crab, and sometimes cowhide. This version focuses on bringing out the natural flavors of the okra and seafood, making it a nutritious and delicious meal.

1 hour 25 minutesMedium
Ghanaian Fante Fante - Ghana traditional dish

Ghanaian Fante Fante

A flavorful and comforting stew originating from the Fante people of Ghana's coast. This dish features fresh fish simmered in a rich tomato and pepper-based sauce, often enhanced with palm oil and local spices. It's a testament to Ghana's coastal culinary heritage.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Fetri Detsi with Smoked Fish - Ghana traditional dish

Fetri Detsi with Smoked Fish

Fetri Detsi, also known as Okra Soup, is a popular Ewe dish from Ghana, characterized by its unique slimy texture and rich flavor. This version incorporates smoked fish, adding a depth of umami and a delightful smoky aroma. It's a nutritious and satisfying meal often enjoyed on its own or with a starchy accompaniment.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Konkonte with Garden Egg Stew - Ghana traditional dish

Konkonte with Garden Egg Stew

A hearty and flavorful Ghanaian dish featuring konkonte (a dense cassava dough) served with a rich and savory garden egg stew, often made with smoked fish and spices.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Ghanaian Tilapia Stew with Garden Eggs - Ghana traditional dish

Ghanaian Tilapia Stew with Garden Eggs

A flavorful and aromatic stew featuring tilapia fish simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with garden eggs (a type of small eggplant). This dish is a delightful blend of spice and savory notes, often enjoyed with boiled yam or plantain.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Nigerian Egusi Soup - Ghana traditional dish

Nigerian Egusi Soup

A rich and flavorful soup made with ground melon seeds, vegetables, and often meat or fish, prepared with a Ghanaian twist.

1 hour 10 minutesMedium

Gambia(10)

Central African Republic(9)

Sanga ya Mbisi na Dongo-Dongo - Central African Republic traditional dish

Sanga ya Mbisi na Dongo-Dongo

A hearty and flavorful stew combining tender fish, okra, and a rich peanut-based sauce. This dish is a staple, showcasing the common use of fish, okra, and peanuts in Central African cuisine.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Cassava Leaf Stew - Central African Republic traditional dish

Cassava Leaf Stew

A hearty and flavorful stew made from simmered cassava leaves, often combined with smoked fish, meat, and enriched with peanut butter and palm oil. It's a staple dish, typically served over rice.

2 hoursMedium
Sanga ya Mbisi - Central African Republic traditional dish

Sanga ya Mbisi

A hearty and flavorful stew featuring tender fish cooked with okra in a rich tomato-based sauce, seasoned with local spices. This dish highlights the use of okra, a common ingredient in Central African cuisine, and is often served with a starchy side like rice or fufu.

1 hourMedium
Okra and Fish Stew - Central African Republic traditional dish

Okra and Fish Stew

A flavorful and hearty stew where okra (gombo) is the star, simmered with fish, tomatoes, and onions to create a rich, slightly viscous sauce. It's a comforting dish often served with a starchy side.

1 hour 25 minutesMedium
Dongo-Dongo Poisson - Central African Republic traditional dish

Dongo-Dongo Poisson

A flavorful and hearty okra-based stew featuring fish, often made with dried, salted, or smoked fish, and seasoned with onions, garlic, peppers, and Maggi cubes. It's a staple that showcases the importance of fish and okra in Central African cuisine.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Soso - Central African Republic traditional dish

Soso

Soso is a popular street food in the Central African Republic, featuring whole fish grilled to perfection and seasoned with a vibrant blend of local spices. It's typically served with a side of rice or boiled yams.

35-40 minutesEasy

Guinea-Bissau(9)

Liberia(8)

Liberian Pepper Rice - Liberia traditional dish

Liberian Pepper Rice

A flavorful and spicy one-pot rice dish, where rice is cooked in a rich broth infused with peppers, onions, and various seasonings. It's a comforting and satisfying meal, often served with a side of meat or fish.

55 minutesEasy
Liberian Kpomo Stew - Liberia traditional dish

Liberian Kpomo Stew

A rich and flavorful stew made with Kpomo (cowhide) simmered in a spicy pepper sauce, often enriched with meat or fish. This dish is a testament to the resourceful use of ingredients in Liberian cuisine.

2 hoursMedium
Liberian Palm Butter Soup - Liberia traditional dish

Liberian Palm Butter Soup

A rich and flavorful West African stew made from the creamy pulp of palm nuts, simmered with various meats or fish, and seasoned with aromatic spices, onions, and peppers. It's a beloved comfort food in Liberia, often served with rice or fufu.

2 hoursMedium
Liberian Fish Stew - Liberia traditional dish

Liberian Fish Stew

A flavorful and aromatic fish stew, often made with a tomato base, onions, peppers, and a blend of West African spices. It's a comforting and satisfying dish typically served with rice.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Liberian Cassava Leaf Stew - Liberia traditional dish

Liberian Cassava Leaf Stew

A hearty and flavorful stew made from tender cassava leaves, simmered with a variety of meats (like beef, chicken, or smoked turkey), dried fish, and seasoned with onions, peppers, and palm oil. Often enriched with peanut butter, this dish is a staple in Liberian cuisine.

2 hoursMedium
Liberian Baked Fish with Vegetables - Liberia traditional dish

Liberian Baked Fish with Vegetables

A flavorful and healthy dish featuring whole fish baked with a medley of traditional Liberian vegetables and spices, creating a moist and aromatic meal.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium

Democratic Republic of the Congo(8)

Tilapia à la Congolaise - Democratic Republic of the Congo traditional dish

Tilapia à la Congolaise

A vibrant and flavorful whole fish dish, typically tilapia, marinated and cooked in a zesty tomato and onion sauce infused with local spices. This preparation highlights the fresh flavors of the Congo River and is often served with a side of rice or fufu.

55 minutesMedium
Liboké de Poisson - Democratic Republic of the Congo traditional dish

Liboké de Poisson

Liboké de Poisson, meaning 'fish in banana leaves,' is a traditional Congolese dish where fish is seasoned and then steamed or grilled within banana leaves. This cooking method imparts a subtle, earthy flavor from the leaves and ensures the fish remains incredibly moist and tender. It's often prepared with a vibrant marinade of onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and various spices.

40-50 minutesMedium
Poisson à la Congolaise - Democratic Republic of the Congo traditional dish

Poisson à la Congolaise

A vibrant and aromatic fish dish cooked in a flavorful tomato and vegetable sauce, often featuring a mix of local spices and herbs. This recipe highlights the fresh flavors of Congolese cuisine.

1 hourEasy
Soso ya Mbika - Democratic Republic of the Congo traditional dish

Soso ya Mbika

A hearty and nutritious stew made from cassava leaves (soso), often cooked with smoked fish or meat and served with fufu or rice. This version focuses on the preparation of the cassava leaves.

2 hours 30 minutesHard
Saka Saka - Democratic Republic of the Congo traditional dish

Saka Saka

Saka Saka, also known as Pondu or Mpondu, is a staple dish in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made from cassava leaves. This hearty and nutritious stew is slow-cooked with aromatics like onions and garlic, often enriched with palm oil, and can include proteins like smoked fish, beef, or chicken. It's typically served with starchy sides such as rice, fufu, or plantains.

1 hour 55 minutesMedium
Makayabu na Fumbwa - Democratic Republic of the Congo traditional dish

Makayabu na Fumbwa

Makayabu na Fumbwa is a flavorful Congolese dish featuring salted fish (makayabu) stewed with fumbwa (wild spinach or other leafy greens) and a blend of aromatic spices. It's a hearty and traditional meal, often served with staples like fufu or boiled plantains.

1 hour 15 minutesMedium

Mauritius(8)

Mine Frite - Mauritius traditional dish

Mine Frite

Mine Frite, meaning 'fried noodles', is a quintessential Mauritian street food dish that showcases a delightful fusion of Chinese and Creole influences. It features stir-fried noodles with a medley of vegetables, protein (commonly chicken or shrimp), and scrambled egg, all tossed in a savory sauce.

45 minutesMedium
Bol Renversé - Mauritius traditional dish

Bol Renversé

Bol Renversé, translating to 'upside-down bowl', is a visually striking Mauritian dish. It features a savory stir-fry of chicken, vegetables, and Chinese sausages, topped with a fried egg, all served in a bowl that is then inverted onto a plate, creating a layered presentation with rice.

55 minutesMedium
Bouillon Brunoise - Mauritius traditional dish

Bouillon Brunoise

A light and flavorful clear broth soup, typically made with chicken or fish, and filled with finely diced vegetables (brunoise). It's a comforting and healthy starter.

1 hour 10 minutesMedium
Cari Poisson - Mauritius traditional dish

Cari Poisson

A flavorful and aromatic fish curry, a staple in Mauritian cuisine. It typically features fresh fish simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with a blend of local spices.

55 minutesMedium
Fish Vindaye - Mauritius traditional dish

Fish Vindaye

A classic Mauritian pickle dish featuring firm fish (often tuna) marinated and lightly fried, then preserved in a tangy, spicy mixture of mustard seeds, turmeric, vinegar, onions, and chilies. It's a flavorful appetizer or side dish.

45 minutes (plus overnight pickling)Medium
Mauritian Fish Curry with Okra - Mauritius traditional dish

Mauritian Fish Curry with Okra

A fragrant and flavorful Mauritian fish curry, featuring tender pieces of white fish simmered in a spiced tomato-based sauce with the unique addition of okra. This dish is a staple in Mauritian households, showcasing the island's diverse culinary influences.

55 minutesEasy

Gabon(7)

Guinea(7)

Maffé de Poisson - Guinea traditional dish

Maffé de Poisson

A rich and savory dish where fish is simmered in a creamy peanut butter sauce with tomatoes, onions, and spices. It's a comforting and hearty meal often served with rice.

55 minutesMedium
Mangoé Rafalari - Guinea traditional dish

Mangoé Rafalari

Mangoé Rafalari is a unique and flavorful Guinean stew that balances the sweetness of mangoes with the savory depth of smoked fish, onions, and chili peppers. It's a delightful dish, often served as a side or a light main course with rice.

1 hour 15 minutesMedium
Yétissé - Guinea traditional dish

Yétissé

Yétissé is a vibrant and flavorful Guinean stew that beautifully combines fish with a medley of vegetables like eggplant, okra, and tomatoes, simmered in a rich, savory broth often enhanced with palm oil. It's typically served with rice, offering a taste of coastal West African cuisine.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Riz à la Crème de Palme - Guinea traditional dish

Riz à la Crème de Palme

A flavorful rice dish cooked in palm cream, often with vegetables and sometimes fish or meat. The palm cream gives it a distinctive color and rich, slightly sweet taste.

50 minutesEasy
Soupe de Poisson Guinéenne - Guinea traditional dish

Soupe de Poisson Guinéenne

A hearty and flavorful fish soup, often made with a variety of fresh fish and vegetables, simmered in a rich tomato and peanut broth. It's a comforting and nutritious staple in Guinean cuisine.

1 hour 10 minutesMedium
Konkoé - Guinea traditional dish

Konkoé

Konkoé is a traditional Guinean stew featuring smoked catfish simmered with a variety of vegetables like eggplant, potatoes, carrots, and onions in a flavorful, slightly soupy sauce. It's a comforting dish often served with rice.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium

Mali(7)

Spicy Malian Grilled Fish - Mali traditional dish

Spicy Malian Grilled Fish

Whole fish marinated in a vibrant blend of spices, herbs, and chili, then grilled to perfection, resulting in a smoky, flavorful, and slightly spicy dish.

40 minutesMedium
La Capitaine Sangha - Mali traditional dish

La Capitaine Sangha

La Capitaine Sangha is a signature Malian dish featuring Nile perch, a mild and flaky white fish, typically served with rice, fried bananas, and a spicy chili sauce. The combination of savory fish, sweet bananas, and a kick of heat makes for a unique and satisfying meal.

55 minutesMedium
Malian Fish Stew with Millet - Mali traditional dish

Malian Fish Stew with Millet

A hearty and aromatic stew featuring firm white fish cooked in a flavorful broth with tomatoes, onions, and spices, served alongside fluffy millet.

1 hour 5 minutesMedium
Malian Fish and Rice - Mali traditional dish

Malian Fish and Rice

A flavorful one-pot dish featuring tender fish stewed with vegetables and then cooked with rice in the flavorful broth. This dish is a variation inspired by the national dish of Senegal, Thieboudienne, which is also popular in Mali.

1 hour 30 minutesMedium
Tigadèguèna ni Djèguè Woussou - Mali traditional dish

Tigadèguèna ni Djèguè Woussou

Tigadèguèna ni Djèguè Woussou is a flavorful Malian stew featuring smoked fish simmered with a medley of vegetables in a rich, savory sauce. This dish highlights the importance of fish in Malian cuisine, particularly in regions near the Niger River, and its preparation often involves a combination of fresh and dried ingredients for depth of flavor.

1 hour 30 minutesMedium
Saka Saka with Fish - Mali traditional dish

Saka Saka with Fish

Saka Saka is a traditional Malian dish made from finely pounded or mashed cassava leaves, often cooked with fish and seasoned with palm oil and aromatic spices. It's a nutritious and flavorful dish, typically served with rice or millet.

1 hour 45 minutesHard

Vietnam(6)

Bánh Hỏi - Vietnam traditional dish

Bánh Hỏi

Bánh Hỏi are delicate, woven rice vermicelli noodles, traditionally made by steaming thin sheets of rice flour batter and then carefully bundling them. They are typically served with grilled meats, fresh herbs, and a flavorful dipping sauce (nuoc cham), creating a light yet satisfying meal.

2 hours 30 minutesHard
Bánh Mì Thịt - Vietnam traditional dish

Bánh Mì Thịt

The quintessential Vietnamese Bánh Mì, featuring a harmonious blend of savory assorted pork, rich pâté, crisp pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs, all nestled within a perfectly toasted baguette. This recipe focuses on assembling the classic version without cooking additional meats, assuming pre-cooked components are used.

30 minutesEasy
Bánh Bao - Vietnam traditional dish

Bánh Bao

Fluffy, cloud-like steamed buns filled with a savory mixture of seasoned ground pork, Chinese sausage, wood ear mushrooms, and a whole hard-boiled quail egg. A beloved Vietnamese street food with Chinese culinary influences.

2 hours 45 minutesMedium
Bánh Chưng - Vietnam traditional dish

Bánh Chưng

A traditional Northern Vietnamese square sticky rice cake, essential for Lunar New Year (Tết). It features layers of glutinous rice, savory mung bean paste, and seasoned pork belly, all wrapped in dong leaves and boiled for an extended period. The square shape symbolizes the Earth.

20-24 hours (minimum)Hard
Bánh Chuối - Vietnam traditional dish

Bánh Chuối

A comforting and sweet Vietnamese dessert cake made with ripe bananas and tapioca pearls, traditionally steamed or baked. It offers a delightful chewy texture and tropical flavor.

1 hour 5 minutes - 1 hour 15 minutesEasy
Bún Riêu Cua - Vietnam traditional dish

Bún Riêu Cua

A vibrant and flavorful Vietnamese noodle soup featuring a rich, tomato-based broth infused with the essence of fresh crab. This comforting dish is known for its tangy, savory profile, complemented by tender crab cakes, fried tofu, and a medley of fresh herbs.

1 hour 30 minutesMedium

Benin(6)

Poisson Braisé avec Sauce Tomate Épicée - Benin traditional dish

Poisson Braisé avec Sauce Tomate Épicée

Whole fish, typically grilled or baked until tender and slightly smoky, served with a vibrant and spicy tomato-based sauce.

55 minutesMedium
Wassa Wassa - Benin traditional dish

Wassa Wassa

Wassa Wassa is a traditional Beninese dish, particularly popular in the northern and central regions. It's a type of couscous made from yam flour, often served with a flavorful sauce, typically featuring fish or chicken. The preparation involves a meticulous process of forming granules and steaming, making it a labor of love, often prepared by local vendors.

1 hour 30 minutesHard
Poisson Braisé à la Sauce Arachide - Benin traditional dish

Poisson Braisé à la Sauce Arachide

Grilled or baked fish served with a rich and savory peanut sauce. This dish combines the smoky flavor of grilled fish with the creamy, nutty goodness of the sauce.

1 hour 15 minutesMedium
Dakouin - Benin traditional dish

Dakouin

Dakouin is a traditional Beninese fish dish, particularly popular along the coast. It features pan-fried tilapia marinated with aromatic spices, served with a rich tomato-based sauce and a base of roasted cassava flour (gari).

1 hour 20 minutesMedium
Igname Pilée avec Sauce Poivron Tomate - Benin traditional dish

Igname Pilée avec Sauce Poivron Tomate

A hearty dish of pounded yam served with a vibrant and slightly spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce, often with added fish or meat.

1 hour 30 minutesHard
Poisson Braisé à la Mode de Porto-Novo - Benin traditional dish

Poisson Braisé à la Mode de Porto-Novo

A flavorful grilled or baked fish dish, inspired by the coastal city of Porto-Novo. This recipe features a marinade of spices, herbs, and often a touch of tomato and onion, resulting in a tender and aromatic fish.

55 minutesMedium

Kenya(6)

Algeria(5)

Cameroon(5)

Burundi(5)

Comoros(5)

Chad(5)

South Korea(5)

Egypt(5)

Fatta with Beef - Egypt traditional dish

Fatta with Beef

A traditional Egyptian festive dish, Fatta features layers of toasted bread, fluffy rice, and tender beef, all brought together with a tangy garlic-vinegar sauce. It's a celebratory meal often prepared for Eid al-Adha.

3 hours 15 minutesMedium
Samak Mashwi - Egypt traditional dish

Samak Mashwi

A classic Egyptian dish featuring whole fish, typically tilapia or sea bass, marinated in a fragrant blend of cumin, garlic, and herbs, then grilled over charcoal until the skin is beautifully charred and the flesh is flaky and moist. Traditionally a Nile River specialty, this preparation highlights the fresh, clean taste of the fish enhanced by aromatic spices.

2 hours 25 minutes (including marinating)Medium
Samak Sayadiya - Egypt traditional dish

Samak Sayadiya

A classic Egyptian coastal dish featuring tender, pan-fried fish served atop fragrant rice infused with the deep, sweet flavor of caramelized onions. This dish is a testament to simple, fresh ingredients transformed into a rich and satisfying meal.

2 hours 15 minutesMedium
Sayadeya - Egypt traditional dish

Sayadeya

Sayadeya is a classic Egyptian dish from the coastal city of Alexandria, featuring tender fish served atop a bed of fragrant rice deeply flavored with caramelized onions and warm spices. The key to this dish is the rich, almost burnt-sugar sweetness of the onions, which forms the base of the rice's flavor.

1 hour 45 minutesMedium
Fattah - Egypt traditional dish

Fattah

A traditional Egyptian festive dish featuring layers of crispy toasted bread, fluffy rice, tender meat, and a tangy garlic-vinegar sauce. It's a celebratory meal often served during Eid al-Adha.

3 hours 15 minutesMedium

Libya(5)

Mauritania(5)

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Morocco(4)

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Malawi(3)

Burkina Faso(2)

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Thailand(2)

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Ivory Coast(2)

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Iraq(1)

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