Description
Celebrate the Lunar New Year in style with this vibrant Mighty Dragon Lunar New Year Platter. Featuring a colorful and festive arrangement of cooked shrimp, Chinese BBQ pork, chicken potstickers, fresh vegetables, and sushi rice, this dish is both visually stunning and delicious. Perfect for sharing at gatherings, it combines a variety of textures and flavors, from the sweet chili and hoisin sauces to the crunch of fresh veggies, all beautifully presented in the shape of a dragon.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Rice
- 1 lb Cooked Shrimp (Substitute with marinated tofu for a vegetarian option)
- 1 lb Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu) (Can be substituted with grilled vegetables or tempeh)
- 8 pieces Chicken Potstickers (Use vegetable potstickers for a vegetarian alternative)
- 2 cups Cooked Sushi Rice (Quinoa can be an alternative)
- 4 pieces Seaweed-Wrapped Rice Balls (Onigiri) (Can be omitted or replaced with regular rice balls)
Vegetables and Garnishes
- 1 large English Cucumber (Any thin-skinned cucumber can be used)
- 2 medium Bell Peppers (Red and Yellow) (Substitute with any color of bell pepper or shredded carrots)
- 1 cup Sugar Snap Peas (Blanched green beans can be used as a substitute)
- 1 cup Shredded Purple Cabbage (Green cabbage can work as a substitute)
- 1 large Carrot (Use zucchini or other veggies for variation)
- 1 bunch Fresh Cilantro (Parsley can substitute but has a different flavor)
- 3 stalks Green Onions (Chives can serve as a substitute)
Sauces and Seasoning
- 1 cup Sweet Chili Sauce (Hoisin or plum sauce can be alternatives)
- 1/2 cup Hoisin Sauce (Can be replaced with teriyaki sauce)
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (Use gluten-free soy sauce for a gluten-free version)
- 2 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seeds (Can be omitted for nut allergies)
- Red Chili (optional) (Omit if a milder flavor is preferred)
- 1 piece Mandarin Orange (Represents a ‘pearl’ at the dragon’s mouth)
Instructions
- Preparation: Gather and organize all ingredients in bowls or plates to streamline the assembly process. This will make the plating easier and more efficient.
- Form Dragon Body: Slice the cucumber and arrange the slices on a large serving board in the shape of a dragon’s body. This creates the visual base of your platter.
- Add Proteins and Rice: Layer the cooked shrimp, Chinese BBQ pork, and chicken potstickers along the cucumber slices, then add the seaweed-wrapped rice balls to continue forming the body.
- Create Fins and Tail: Use strips of bell peppers and sugar snap peas to create the dragon’s fins and shredded purple cabbage to form its flowing tail for a burst of color and texture.
- Shape Dragon’s Head: Place a rice ball at one end of the platter to serve as the dragon’s head. Use toasted sesame seeds to create eyes and optional red chili pieces for decorative details.
- Add the Pearl: Position the mandarin orange near the dragon’s mouth to symbolize the pearl, an important element in dragon imagery.
- Finish with Garnishes: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds across the platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and sliced green onions for the final touch of freshness and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute proteins like shrimp and pork with vegetarian options such as marinated tofu, tempeh, or vegetable potstickers to suit dietary preferences.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce if you require a gluten-free version of this dish.
- To tone down spiciness, omit the red chili decoration or use milder peppers.
- Feel free to customize the vegetable selections depending on what’s in season or preferred, such as swapping snap peas with green beans or carrots with zucchini.
- This platter is best assembled fresh and served on the same day for optimal texture and flavor.
