Dishes that bring good luck during Tet (Vietnamese New Year)

Traditional Tet dishes are not only valued for their delicious taste and enjoyment, but also carry the belief in bringing good fortune for the new year.

Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, Specialist Level 2 (Day Treatment Unit - University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3), shared that the diversity and richness of dishes, from traditional to modern, during Tet (Lunar New Year) contribute to the joyful reunion, good fortune, and improved quality of life, making the flavors of the homeland even richer and more vibrant for a new year filled with joy and happiness.

Below are some traditional Tet dishes believed to bring good luck to the household.

Chung cake

In the Vietnamese psyche, banh chung (sticky rice cake) represents the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source." The square shape of the banh chung symbolizes the convergence of heaven and earth and expresses gratitude to ancestors.

"Many people are afraid to eat banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) because they think it's fattening, but this is actually a dish that provides sufficient energy for the body if eaten in moderation. With ingredients like sticky rice, mung beans, and pork, banh chung provides us with many vitamins and minerals. The sticky rice in banh chung has a sweet, warm taste, is soft and chewy, and has a fragrant aroma. It benefits kidney function, nourishes the liver, improves liver and gallbladder circulation, strengthens the spleen and stomach to nourish the whole body, and strengthens tendons and bones," shared Dr. Vu.

Mung beans in the filling have a sweet taste and cooling properties, nourishing the spleen, stomach, heart, and liver, detoxifying food, and balancing the richness of the meat and sticky rice. Pork has a sweet taste and warming properties, nourishing the kidneys and strengthening male potency; the fatty parts help absorb and eliminate alcohol. Black pepper has a spicy taste and warming properties, warming the spleen and stomach, stimulating digestion, reducing gas, eliminating phlegm, and treating abdominal pain caused by cold accumulation and indigestion.

Dr. Vu noted that those who should avoid or limit eating banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) include people with stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome or gastroesophageal reflux, those at risk of or currently overweight or obese, those with kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and those with acne.

Banh chung is a traditional Vietnamese dish for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Bitter gourd soup

As its name suggests, bitter melon soup symbolizes the hope that the hardships and difficulties of the past year will pass, and the new year will bring more luck and good fortune.

According to Doctor Vu, this soup is relatively easy to cook and contains many nutrients. It's a cooling, refreshing, and nutritious soup that effectively helps to clear heat and detoxify the body, especially during hot weather and when people consume a lot of oily foods, like during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Bitter melon not only helps to cool the body and supplement fiber but also helps beautify the skin, reduce blood fat, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar.

Braised pork belly

Braised pork belly is a signature dish of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), symbolizing family harmony and happiness. It's nutritious, flavorful, and easy to eat, appealing to the elderly, children, and guests alike. However, cooking too much braised pork belly and reheating it multiple times can cause the fat in the meat to transform under high temperatures, potentially affecting health.

"Braised pork is also a high-energy dish, so overweight and obese people, those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or dyslipidemia should moderate their consumption and avoid eating too much braised pork. It is recommended that these people choose lean cuts of meat, avoid the braising liquid, and eat a maximum of 3-4 eggs per week," Dr. Vu noted.

Braised pork belly is a signature dish of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), symbolizing family harmony and happiness.

Pickled onions

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pickled onions are a spicy, warming food that helps to invigorate yang energy, expel impurities, detoxify, and improve blood circulation and meridian flow. They also warm the spleen and stomach, aid in the digestion of fats, and reduce joint pain caused by cold exposure. Because of their pleasant sweet and sour taste and high fiber content, which supports digestion and helps the liver cope with the constant intake of fatty, protein-rich foods like sticky rice cakes, jellied meat, braised pork, fried spring rolls, and sausages, pickled onions are often eaten as an accompaniment to enhance the flavor of dishes, reduce satiety, and stimulate digestion, especially for those with digestive disorders, constipation, or bloating.

"However, pickled onions and cucumbers pose potential health risks, especially for people with stomach problems, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or pregnant women, who should not eat too much," Dr. Vu warned.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pickles are a spicy, warming food that helps to invigorate yang energy and expel impure energy.

Chicken

Golden-brown boiled chicken is also a familiar dish on the Tet (Lunar New Year) feast table of Vietnamese families, symbolizing a prosperous and auspicious start to the new year. Therefore, it's unclear when exactly, but boiled chicken has become the chosen dish to start the new year with good fortune.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, chicken meat is warm and sweet in nature, non-toxic, nourishing, beneficial for the lungs, and also treats postpartum hemorrhage, leucorrhea, dysentery, and boils. It is a food that nourishes the spleen and stomach, replenishes qi, blood, and kidneys. More than just a delicious and easy-to-make dish for Tet (Vietnamese New Year), boiled chicken is also a source of essential nutrients and vitamins for the body. It is a high-quality food that is easily absorbed and digested by the human body, making it an excellent health-boosting food.

However, chicken meat should not be eaten with perilla leaves, as it can cause bloating and indigestion. People with high blood pressure should limit their consumption of chicken skin... People with chickenpox or kidney stones should avoid chicken meat.

Boiled corn

Corn is a rich source of vitamins B and C, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates, offering numerous health benefits such as stimulating digestion, preventing anemia, providing energy, and protecting cardiovascular health. Two antioxidants, zeaxanthin and lutein, abundant in corn, are good for eye and skin health. In Vietnam, there's a saying, "as solid as corn," and many people eat corn hoping for a prosperous and successful new year for their families.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-mon-an-mang-lai-may-man-ngay-tet-185250127203728546.htm