Today is Chinese New Year, and if you’re like me and waited until the last minute to make plans to celebrate, then here are some quick and easy recipes to create the perfect Chinese New Year’s dinner in no time.

Main Course
For the main course serving a whole chicken or a whole fish represents prosperity, family unity and completeness for the new year. This easy to make Five Spice Roast Chicken Recipe uses a whole young chicken. To make this in the traditional way, be sure to get a chicken with the head and feet still attached and just remove the gizzards before cooking.

This Chinese Steamed Fish with Apricot Sauce Recipe uses a whole trout that is butterflied, steamed, and then topped with a delicious apricot sauce. This takes no time to make and is one of my go to Chinese new year’s recipes.

Side Dishes
There is much symbolism in many of the side dishes that are served on Chinese New Year. Traditionally one would have jiaozi, which are handmade dumplings symbolizing wealth. As well as noodles such as rice noodle cakes and longevity noodles that symbolize long life. Here are several easy to make side dishes that have great symbolism.

The snow peas in this Snow Pea Stir Fry Recipe represent unity for the new year, similar to the main course recipes.

The fried tofu in this Tofu and Mushroom Stir Fry Recipe represents wealth and prosperity in the new year, and the shiitake mushrooms in this recipe represent longevity.

This Longevity Noodles Recipe is a traditional new year’s recipe that represents long life. Just remember not to break the noodles while cooking or eating them because that would bring bad luck in the new year.

Mixed vegetables symbolize family harmony in the new year. This Steamed Mixed Vegetables Recipe is super easy to make and is a great healthy side dish recipe.

Dessert
Traditional desserts consist of sweet red bean paste pastries, red bean soup, and sticky rice cakes. For an easy last minute dish that is super healthy and full of traditional symbolism try this Chinese Fruit Salad Recipe. Made with melon, longans, grapes, and mandarin oranges, this dish represents a mix of wealth, good fortune, and family togetherness for the new year.