Is there any particular preference for what kind of fish to eat for New Year's Eve dinner? What is the best fish to eat for New Year's Eve dinner?

We all know that every year on New Year's Eve, every family will have a New Year's Eve dinner, which is also called a reunion dinner. It is a relatively important gathering and many dishes will be prepared. Fish is an indispensable dish among them. Different places will eat different fish, so what kind of fish is better to eat on New Year's Eve? Let's take a closer look!

Is there any particular fish to eat on New Year's Eve?

What kind of fish should we eat during the Chinese New Year? In fact, it depends on everyone's taste, the differences between the north and the south, and the family's economic situation. If the family is rich, you can eat shark fin, abalone, or even shark. Are you rich? What to eat is actually determined by the family's economic foundation. But in fact, for ordinary people, it doesn't matter what kind of fish to eat. The key is that the Chinese New Year should pay attention to the meaning of fish. We ordinary people live our lives. In fact, on occasions such as the Chinese New Year, we dare not say that we have big fish and meat, but we still pay attention to a rule of side dishes, that is, chicken, duck, fish and meat. Family gatherings, including some people coming and going, and there will also be some banquets, so raising the standard of the banquet also reflects the improvement of our living standards and the enthusiasm for hospitality.

What kind of fish is good to eat on New Year's Eve

There is no strict rule on what kind of fish to eat for the New Year’s Eve dinner. The types of fish and cooking methods vary from region to region.

People living in coastal areas like to choose fresh marine fish, such as sea bass, eel, grouper, tiger fish, yellow croaker, rice fish, flat fish, etc. They are usually steamed whole or braised in sweet and sour sauce. However, there is an unwritten custom among the people that fish must be cooked whole during the Chinese New Year, and it is best not to cut it into pieces!

People living in the inland usually like to eat freshwater fish, which are river fish, lake fish or artificially cultivated pond fish, and of course also include salmon and puffer fish that grow between the sea and the inland river. Among freshwater fish, mandarin fish is the best, and river perch, grass carp, black fish, carp, bighead carp, pomfret, etc. are also good choices. Fish must be on the table of every household on New Year's Eve, which means "abundance every year" and good luck.

When it comes to eating fish, there are some taboo customs. For example, in Yantai, Shandong Province, hairtail cannot be served on the table during festivals. The locals call hairtail "knife fish", which is a "weapon".

Of course, people not only pay attention to eating fish during the Chinese New Year, but also have the custom of "giving fish as gifts". In Yantai, Shandong, this traditional custom is still preserved today. When a newlywed couple returns to her parents' home, no matter what valuable gifts they bring, they must bring a few big, fat, fresh Spanish mackerel. If they forget to bring them, they will be looked down upon. In fact, the purpose is to wish for good luck and good weather in the coming year!

How to eat fish on New Year's Eve

Freshwater fish

Freshwater fish include carp, grass carp, silver carp and various other fish. For ordinary people, carp, grass carp and silver carp are actually very cheap fish. I believe this is also the fish that we often have at home during the Chinese New Year. Personally, I still prefer to eat carp or grass carp. Carp and grass carp can be braised fish during the Chinese New Year. If there are many children, you can also make a squirrel fish for them. Squirrel fish is actually very delicious, sweet and sour for all ages, but this squirrel fish is also difficult to make, and its knife skills and impurities are very particular. Well, if you don’t have experience, it’s also difficult to make.

Marine fish

With the improvement of people's living standards, marine fish has become more and more popular in recent years. In the south, it may be convenient and cheap to eat marine fish, but in the inland northern region, eating marine fish is not so cheap and is also a luxury. Marine fish is actually more delicious, the meat is tender, and it can be steamed, and the cooking method is also simple, so eating marine fish is also a fashion in the northern region. Marine fish includes many kinds of cheap mackerel and hairtail. As an Inner Mongolian, I don't know much about fish. In our New Year, we may buy some hairtail in winter. We used to buy mackerel, but later, fewer and fewer people eat mackerel. I personally still prefer to eat hairtail, because hairtail can be braised in red, grilled, fried, or sweet and sour.

What is the meaning of eating fish on New Year's Eve?

It means there will be surplus every year, which is quite auspicious.

Whether you are having New Year’s Eve dinner at home or in a restaurant, the most important thing to pay attention to is to eat a large, fresh carp.

"Yu" and "Yu" are homophones, which means surplus, abundance; "Li" and "Li" are homophones, which means home. It means the surplus of the family, the more surplus money, food, clothing, etc., the better! "Xian" and "Xian" are homophones, which means that there is surplus wealth and money rolling in, and it will come to my home first! "Xin" means that the new year follows the old year, and it continues year after year. This is the meaning of eating fresh carp for the New Year's Eve dinner.

During the Chinese New Year, you should say auspicious words, and avoid saying unlucky words. When you meet someone, you should ask for auspicious words such as "Happy New Year" and "May you get rich". Don't quarrel, don't break things, don't get hurt (don't lose money), and you will have a smooth year.