Inez's Favourite Chinese New Year Snacks

In Malaysia, the Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year with tasty cookies. Your friends and family will visit you on any of the 15 days of Chinese New Year to pay respect and catch up on good times, and vice versa. These cookies are served to make sure that your esteemed guests to go back with an empty stomach!

1. Almond Cookies

Photo by Table For Two via https://www.tablefortwoblog.com/chinese-new-year-almond-cookies/

I am not a big fan of nuts but the fragrant smell emitting from these freshly baked babies is probably the best thing to wake up to! Pair this with coffee and you have the perfect combination. Check out this fool-proof recipe I found.

Difficulty: PIECE OF CAKE

2. Kuih Bangkit

Photo by Thermomix via https://cookidoo.international/recipes/recipe/en/r168511

Honestly, this is my top pick for sweet snacks amongst all (read on to see what my favourite savoury snack is!), but if you hate coconut, skip this one. This unique cookie got its name from the term "Bangkit" which means "Rise" because after baking, the cookies rise and expand to twice the size! This beauty melts in the mouth, while becoming this pile of creamy hot mess.The coconut and pandan (screwpine leaves) flavour combines together in a harmony of flavours (Basically every Malaysian kuih!). Think of it as an Asian coconut-flavoured meringue. Get the recipe here.

Difficulty: HARD

3. Fortune Cookies

Photo by Unilever Food Solutions via https://www.unileverfoodsolutions.co.id/dam/global-ufs/mcos/SEA/calcmenu/recipes/ID-recipes/desserts-&-bakery/fortune-cookies/main-header.jpg

So if you have ever come across an Asian Aunt (Self-racism is not racism!) you would know that they absolutely love predicting fortunes. If you are willing to take the challenge, make these yummy cuties which will predict your future for 2022. I will admit that these are more fun than delicious, but they are great conversation-starters don't you think? Get the recipe here.

4. Pineapple Tarts

Photo by Nyonya Cooking via https://ucarecdn.com/8d585115-a9ca-47ef-8869-1761d93ae13f/-/scale_crop/1280x720/center/-/quality/normal/-/format/webp/nyonya-pineapple-tarts.webp

What is Chinese New Year without pineapple tarts? These are the staple cookies to have on every coffee table for your guests. Ever wondered why it was pineapple and not I don't know, pear tarts, peach tarts or apple tarts? That's because the Chinese believe that pineapples are a symbol of fortune and wealth as pineapples in the Hokkien Dialect is "Ong" which also means fortune. Eating these will surely make you (and your blood sugar, yikes!) "Ong"! This is my favourite recipe so far.

5. Spicy Dried Shrimp Rolls

Photo by tummy troll via https://tummytroll.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/step-by-step-recipe-crispy-fried-prawn-rolls-hae-bee-hiam-蝦米香/

I'm telling you, this is the best savoury snack you will find in your aunt's, uncle's, grandparents', great grandparents' and your house. This recipe packs dried shrimp and chilli neatly into a parcel of love, but you can opt for other fillings as well like pork floss or chicken floss. Trust me, this snack is more addictive than any other drug in the world.

6. Bak Kwa (Meat Jerky)

Photo by Peng Guan Bak Kwa via https://static.thehoneycombers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Peng-Guan-Bak-Kwa-900x643.png

If you are a meat lover, you have got to try this one. Pork jerky is a must-have for Chinese New Year, but if you don't take pork, you can always opt for chicken jerky as well! The sweet and salty taste of this piece of goodness really makes you want to leap up with joy on the first bite. It tastes somewhat like a mix of teriyaki sauce and pork lard. Yum yum!

So that's all for Inez's top Chinese New Year snacks. I know all these aren't the healthiest snacks, but hey, once a year? Let me know what your favourite snacks are!