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New Delhi: Across cultures, the New Year is welcomed with food that carries meaning far beyond taste. Certain dishes are cooked and shared because they symbolise prosperity, long life, and the hope of a smooth year ahead. From lentils shaped like coins in Italy to long noodles served unbroken across Asia, these recipes reflect how deeply food and belief are intertwined. Many of these traditions have survived for centuries, passed down through families as quiet rituals of optimism.

What makes these New Year recipes special is their simplicity and symbolism. They are not elaborate festive spreads but thoughtful dishes tied to intention. Cooking and eating them becomes a way to mark transition, invite abundance, and begin the year with purpose rather than excess. Here are the recipes.

Classic New Year foods that symbolise luck and prosperity 1. Lentil soup with sausage and kale

Why it matters: In Italy, lentils resemble ancient Roman coins and are eaten to invite prosperity in the coming year, often paired with sausage for richness.

Ingredients for Lentil soup with sausage and kale (serves 4)

• Dried brown or green lentils: 1 cup
• Olive oil: 2 tbsp
• Garlic: 4 cloves, chopped
• Onion: 1 medium, finely chopped
• Carrot: 1 medium, diced
• Celery: 1 stalk, diced
• Italian sausage: 200 g, sliced
• Vegetable or chicken stock: 4 cups
• Kale: 2 cups, chopped
• Bay leaf: 1
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

How to prepare lentil soup with sausage and kale

Rinse lentils thoroughly and soak for 30 minutes. Drain.

Heat olive oil in a pot, add sausage, and cook until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.

In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrot, and celery until soft.

Add lentils, stock, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 25 minutes.

Add kale and sausage, cook for another 5–7 minutes until greens soften.

Adjust seasoning and serve warm.

2. Sichuan mushroom chow mein

Why it matters: In many Asian cultures, long noodles symbolise long life. Cutting or breaking them is avoided to preserve good fortune.

Ingredients for Sichuan mushroom chow mein (serves 2-3)

• Egg noodles or wheat noodles: 200 g
• Sesame oil: 1 tbsp
• Vegetable oil: 1 tbsp
• Garlic: 5 cloves, minced
• Mushrooms (shiitake or button): 200 g, sliced
• Spring onions: 3, sliced
• Soy sauce: 2 tbsp
• Sichuan chilli oil: 1 tbsp (adjust to taste)
• Rice vinegar: 1 tsp
• Sugar: ½ tsp

How to prepare Sichuan mushroom chow mein

Boil noodles according to packet instructions without breaking them. Drain and set aside.

Heat oils in a wok, add garlic and mushrooms, stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.

Add noodles, soy sauce, chilli oil, vinegar, and sugar. Toss gently to avoid breaking noodles.

Add spring onions, stir once, and remove from heat.

Serve immediately.

3. Orange juice ring cake

Why it matters: Ring-shaped cakes symbolise completion, continuity, and good luck. Citrus is often linked with freshness and optimism.

Ingredients for orange juice ring cake (serves 8)

• All-purpose flour: 2 cups
• Baking powder: 2 tsp
• Sugar: ¾ cup
• Eggs: 3
• Fresh orange juice: 1 cup
• Vegetable oil: ½ cup
• Orange zest: 1 tbsp
• Vanilla extract: 1 tsp

How to prepare an orange juice ring cake

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a ring or bundt pan.

Whisk eggs and sugar until pale. Add oil, juice, zest, and vanilla.

Fold in flour and baking powder gently.

Pour batter into pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.

Cool slightly, unmould, and serve plain or dusted with sugar.

New Year food traditions remind us that cooking is also a form of intention-setting. These symbolic recipes bring warmth, meaning, and a sense of continuity to the table, making them thoughtful ways to begin the year with hope and positivity.