Lunar New Year’s Eve Vegetarian Dinner in Taiwan

Before moving to Taiwan, I imagined Chinese New Year dinners as huge tables full of fish, meat dishes, dumplings, and endless symbolic foods (or at least that's what we would see on TV)

But my experience turned out to be a little different.

My parents-in-law are vegetarians, so many of the dishes people associate with Lunar New Year never actually appear on our family table... Growing up in Poland, I never expected that one of my introductions to Taiwanese holiday traditions would be through vegetarian cooking.

At the same time, if you join a more traditional non-vegetarian family in Taiwan, there are certain foods that appear again and again because of their symbolic meanings.

Even though our table looks different from what many people imagine as a traditional Lunar New Year feast, the meaning stays the same.

Whether the dishes contain fish, vegetables, dumplings, or cakes, the purpose is not only to eat - it is to welcome the new year with wishes for prosperity, health, and family togetherness.

Fish (魚) - Surplus and Prosperity

Fish is one of the most classic Lunar New Year dishes. The Chinese word for fish (yú) sounds similar to the word for “surplus,” so eating fish symbolizes having abundance and prosperity in the coming year.

There are even specific types of fish chosen because of lucky word associations. Since husband's parents are vegetarian, fish is naturally absent from our table - but it remains one of the strongest New Year food traditions in Taiwan.

Dumplings (餃子) - Wealth

Dumplings symbolize wealth because their shape resembles ancient Chinese silver ingots. There is even a saying that the more dumplings you eat during New Year celebrations, the more wealth the new year may bring. Traditional fillings include pork, shrimp, fish, chicken, beef, and vegetables.

Spring Rolls (春捲) - Wealth

Spring rolls are another common festive food. Their golden fried appearance resembles gold bars, making them associated with wealth and prosperity.

Tangyuan (湯圓) - Family Togetherness

Tangyuan are sweet glutinous rice balls often filled with black sesame or peanut. Their round shape symbolizes reunion and family unity.

This is one of my favorite examples because it shows how much importance Taiwanese culture places on gathering together during holidays. Nowadays, modern fillings have expanded to include flavors like matcha, milk tea, and fruit.

Longevity Noodles (長壽麵)

These extra-long noodles symbolize wishes for a long and happy life. Traditionally, they are served uncut because breaking them would symbolically shorten longevity.

Lucky Fruits

Certain fruits appear during Lunar New Year because of both pronunciation and symbolism: tangerines, oranges, pomelos. Their golden color represents wealth and fullness.

Prosperity Cake (發粿)

One of my favorite symbolic foods is Fa Gao. This steamed cake rises and splits during cooking. Its name suggests prosperity and growth, and among Hakka families the opening at the top is sometimes described as a smiling face bringing good fortune. The bigger the split, the luckier it is believed to be.

Nian Gao (年糕) - Growing Higher Every Year

Nian Gao is another traditional New Year food made from glutinous rice. Its name sounds similar to “higher year,” symbolizing improvement, promotion, and progress. Different regions prepare it differently: sweet versions, savory versions, taro versions, fried or steamed.

Taiwan also has local variations that many families enjoy during the holiday season.

We usually coat it with egg and pan fry.