Every culture believes in a food item that, when consumed on New Year’s Eve, will fill them with luck in the new year. Today we’re exploring these lucky foods and recipes to eat before the new year rings in.
Celebrating New Year’s Eve is a chance to put past struggles behind and look toward the future. Some of us just throw caution to the wind and stare at the new year straight in the face, with no preparation, while others prefer the comfort of those “lucky” foods our culture has instilled in us to consume before the clock strikes 12. Here are some recipes showcasing your future luck in the new year.
Grapes
In Spain, Portugal and other Spanish-speaking countries, 12 grapes are consumed before the new year begins in hopes that luck will find its way to you. You can eat the grapes fresh, as tradition dictates, or you can add them to your NYE dinner recipes, like below.
1. Rosemary martini with frozen grapes recipe
Image: Set the Table
Welcome your guests into your home with this rosemary martini with frozen grapes.
2. Green grape spritzer recipe
Image: La Fuji Mama
Great for the kids and those adults staying away from booze, this lucky green grape spritzer is just delicious and refreshing!
3. Roasted grape margarita recipe
Image: Sweet Life Bake
Roasting grapes brings out their natural sweetness, so it’s a natural idea to make this roasted grape margarita.
4. Blue cheese and pan-roasted grape tartine recipe
Serve this blue cheese and pan-roasted grape tartine as a pass-around appetizer or as a sit-down meal with a side of fresh greens.
5. Mini phyllo cups with whipped goat cheese, grapes and thyme recipe
Image: A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
These mini phyllo cups with whipped goat cheese, grapes and thyme are the perfect party treat!
6. Roasted grape, blue cheese and honey crostini recipe
Image: Two Peas & Their Pod
Another great crostini, this roasted grape, blue cheese and honey crostini is gorgeous when served around your cheese platter.
Pomegranate
In Greece, it’s considered good luck to smash a whole pomegranate on the ground. The more seeds, the more luck you’ll see in the new year. But instead of wasting a gorgeous and perfect fruit, why not cook with it and serve it to your guests for good luck?
7. 5-Ingredient pear-pomegranate salsa recipe
Image: Gimme Some oven
Try this five-ingredient pear-pomegranate salsa for good luck and good times — salsas are total party food!
8. Sweet potato-pomegranate salad recipe
Image: Two Peas & Their Pod
This sweet potato-pomegranate salad makes a gorgeous salad side dish for your NYE dinner.
9. Beet, carrot and pomegranate salad recipe
Image: Foodie Crush
Start the year with this refreshing and fresh beet, carrot and pomegranate salad.
10. Miso roasted acorn squash and pomegranate salad recipe
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Have vegetarian guests? This miso roasted acorn squash and pomegranate salad is just the hearty dish for them.
Noodles
In Japan and other Asian countries, slurping long noodles before the new year arrives is said to be good luck. Long noodles represent long life, so be sure to just slurp them. Don’t cut them up or even bite them!
11. Sesame soba noodles recipe
Image: Damn Delicious
Slurp on some sesame soba noodles for good luck in the new year.
12. Toshikoshi soba recipe
Image: La Fuji Mama
Toshikoshi soba, a classic Japanese noodle dish, would be a fantastic way to warm up on a chilly Dec. 31.
13. Hoisin caramelized salmon and sesame soba noodle bowls recipe
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Oh, how we are loving these hoisin caramelized salmon and sesame soba noodle bowls. Serve your friends their own noodle bowls, which they can top with their favorite condiments.
14. Soba noodles with leeks, sweet onions and egg recipe
Image: Running to the Kitchen
Put an egg on it! These soba noodles with leeks, sweet onions and egg would make a delicious lunch before the new year arrives.
15. Spicy soba noodles with kale and shiitake mushrooms recipe
Need a quick dinner idea? These spicy soba noodles with kale and shiitake mushrooms are just the thing to slurp on!
Black-eyed peas
Make a big pot of “Hoppin’ John,” a traditional New Year’s Eve recipe in the American South. Black-eyed peas and rice are served all over the South, from Louisiana to Georgia and beyond!
16. Hoppin’ John recipe
Image: Foxes Love Lemons
Hoppin’ John will make you feel like you’re in the warm South this New Year’s Eve.
17. Black-eyed pea hummus recipe
The best dip to welcome the new year with: black-eyed pea hummus.
18. Black-eyed pea dip recipe
Image: Skinnytaste
A fresh dip, this black-eyed pea dip balances out the rest of the calories you’ll be consuming.
Pork
In countries like Cuba, Spain, Portugal and those in the Caribbean, consuming pork for the new year is considered lucky. The pig never moves backward, always looking ahead for his food. Pork and pig-shaped baked goods are also lucky items to eat.
19. Puerto Rican peril with crispy skin recipe
Image: Always Order Dessert
Puerto Rican peril with crispy skin — basically the best pork you’ll ever have. That skin is amazing, and the flavors of orange, garlic and cilantro shine.
20. Roasted pork leg recipe
Image: Laylita’s Recipe
Another gorgeous pork dish, this roasted pork leg makes not only the perfect recipe but an even better centerpiece at your table.
Whole fish recipe
Another Chinese tradition is to eat whole fish on NYE. It’s said that the word “fish” sounds like the word “abundance” in the Chinese language. Plus the symbolism of eating the entire fish from head to tail ensures a good new year from start to finish.
21. Japanese salt-grilled sea bream recipe
Image: La Fuji Mama
Japanese salt-grilled sea bream, a traditional Japanese recipe, will welcome the new year from head to tail.
22. Colombian-style fried whole fish recipe
Image: My Colombian Recipes
Colombian-style fried whole fish is typically served at beach parties and get-togethers. A fantastic dish to serve on NYE.
23. Whole baked trout with herb salsa recipe
Image: The View from Great Island
A more elegant take on whole fish, this whole baked trout with herb salsa is a great dinner party recipe.
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