New Year Dishes For Prosperity

What a New Year’s Day Menu Looks Like

Traditional foods include pork (they root forward), black-eyed peas or lentils (shape of money), herring (silvery like coins), noodles and greens (long life), rice and red beans (Hoppin’ John), cornbread (gold color for wealth), grapes, oranges, pomegranates, and, of course, champagne. And we can’t forget dessert to sweeten up your New Year.

Foods to avoid include bottom feeders (catfish, cod, and crustaceans like lobster and crab), poultry (anything with wings to fly away or that scratches in the dirt), hollow bread (maybe skip the bread and have cornbread instead), tofu (in China, any white food is off the menu), beef, broken noodles, and bananas.

Also, don’t finish everything on your plate or pass a knife. Do the superstitions ever end? So let’s dive into the delicious recipes.

Main Courses for Prosperity

Southern Black-Eyed Peas

Black-eyed peas and Hoppin’ John are believed to attract more money because they symbolize coins. They’re delightfully smoky, spicy, and flavorful. The bacon adds more flavor and luck. Add rice for an extra touch of luck (brown rice if you’re in China).

Lentil Soup 

In Brazil, Italy, and France, these coin-shaped lentils are a New Year’s staple. People appear to have enjoyed it for good fortune and prosperity since Roman times. Aside from that, it’s super easy, cozy, healthy, and pairs well with cornbread.

Slow Cooker Pork Loin  

Pigs are said to be the luckiest of all foods to eat on New Year’s Day as they are round, representing prosperity, and they root forward, symbolizing progress. Any pork dish, be it glazed ham, bacon, or this super easy, tender pork loin stuffed with pineapples and garlic.

Oven-Baked Salmon

Fish are said to be lucky in three ways: their scales resemble coins, they travel in schools (symbolizing prosperity), and they swim forward (representing progress). Plus, they’re a healthy low-carb dinner option.

Lucky Sides

Collard Greens

Dark leafy greens represent cold, hard, green cash. And who doesn’t need more money for next year? Plus, with ham hocks for extra luck, slowly simmered in a flavorful broth, you’ll have an indulging green dish. If you prefer a more international flair, try spicy Ethiopian collards.

Skillet Cornbread

The Southern saying is, “Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold”. This skillet cornbread is a perfect side dish for your greens and peas, so if you want to complete that lucky trio, add this cornbread to your menu. Moist, buttery, and baked to perfection in a skillet gives you bread that definitely won’t turn out hollow.

Pesto Pasta

Green basil for wealth and long, unbroken noodles for long life come in the form of this tasty pasta recipe. You’ll love the simplicity and how fast it cooks up for a stress-free New Year’s Eve dinner.

New Year’s Appetizers

Hummus

Did you know you can also make hummus with lentils and black-eyed peas? Of course, the taste will be different but incredibly good. Serve it with veggie sticks or corn chips for a satisfying appetizer.

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Make your own corn chips the day before and serve them up with green guac for a deliciously healthy snack. Add even more good luck with a tropical guacamole, enjoying a touch of mango.

African Fish Rolls

Herring (in this case, sardines) is a lucky food for New Year’s. If you prefer a snack buffet instead of a huge meal, here’s your recipe.

Bagels

Grab yourself some smoked salmon and cream cheese and load up this lucky ring-shaped bagel for lox and bagels. If you’ve never tried it, now is your chance.

Desserts for a Sweet Life

Rice Pudding

Swedish and Norwegians make rice pudding to welcome the New Year. Often, they place a single almond in their rice pudding, and whoever finds it will be prosperous in the coming year. But hey, with or without the almond, you’ll feel the positive vibes with this deliciously creamy, quick, and easy dessert. Plus, it’s a cozy winter comfort food that the whole family would enjoy!

Ambrosia Salad

Grapes, oranges, and cherries are traditional ingredients that are also eaten for good luck. So throw this fruit salad together and enjoy.

Rum Cake 

Ring-shaped foods, like bagels, donuts, and bundt or tube cakes, represent the year coming full circle. It’s the perfect dessert to grace your New Year’s Eve dining table!

Whatever you put on your dining table, I wish you a prosperous New Year. Happy New Year, everyone! 🙂