It’s the start of a brand new year, the festivities have come to an end and the build-up to the final new year party has long gone, but who’s to say the celebrations should stop there? Later this month is another festival that is celebrated by many people around the world – Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year falls on the 22^nd of January and is honoured by numerous people across the globe whether they are of Chinese origin or not. Unlike the internationally celebrated New Year, following the Gregorian calendar which occurs on the 1^st of January every year, Chinese New Year is celebrated at the start of a new moon. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and sun, typically 21-51 days behind the Gregorian calendar. As the cycles change every year, Chinese New Year tends to fall between January 21^st and February 20^th.

To keep the celebrations going throughout the start of 2023, we thought it would be a great idea to join the art of barbecuing and Chinese New Year together, so we can all enjoy the day! In fact, barbecuing is not new to China, and is a widely used cooking method throughout the whole of the country.

In some regions of China, barbecued food is their signature cuisine – in the north, ‘Shaokao’ or ‘Chuanr’ is a popular street food, that consists of a skewer loaded with fresh meats, fish, and vegetables, cooked over hot smoking coals.

In this blog post, we have included some delicious Asian barbecue recipes for you to try. These dishes are bound to tickle everyone’s fancy, whether you’re a chef cooking for numerous guests or a caterer preparing for a Chinese New Year event, these will spice up any menu.

Char Siu – BBQ Pork

Barbecued pork is a traditional and popular dish in China and the UK! Char Siu is a classic dish that is probably on every Asian-style menu, whether that be a restaurant or takeaway – it is a dish that you can’t go wrong with. This pork dish is known for its salty yet sweet flavours, which complement the pork impeccably. Generally, pork shoulders are used for this dish as they tend to be fattier, however, you can use any cut that you like, to cater for all your guests. When cooked on the BBQ and basted in a sweet glaze, the pork becomes slightly crisp and caramelised on the outside, whilst remaining soft and succulent on the inside.

This recipe by The Woks of Life explains how to make the perfect Char Siu glaze.

Hoisin Chicken Skewers

Everyone loves hoisin duck pancakes served with fresh cucumber and spring onion, but what about hoisin chicken? Similar to duck pancakes which can be shared by a large number of guests, these skewers can too, making them a perfect BBQ appetiser! Before loading your chicken pieces onto the skewer, marinate them in a delicious hoisin and soy sauce mixture, to create a beautiful Asian fusion. Grill the skewers on the BBQ until the chicken is cooked all the way through and is slightly charred on the outside.

Accompany with a portion of steamed rice or some vegetables for a lovely light dish. The Great British Chefs recommend a smashed cucumber salad with sesame dressing.

BBQ Corn Cob with an Asian Surprise

This is one for the veggies! We all know that grilled corn on the cob is a BBQ classic, as the corn becomes sweet, juicy, and a little bit crunchy. Usually, a coating of melted salted butter will give the corn that extra bit of flavour, however, for an Asian twist we recommend something else.

We think this recipe by Just One Cookbook looks delightful – barbecued corn on the cob and miso butter! We also think this dish would make an excellent side, especially for those who like a bit of meat too.

Grilled Salmon and Black Bean

Within many regions of China, grilled fish is a go-to dish, and is perhaps one of the healthier options when cooking on the BBQ. Salmon is a great fish to BBQ with, as it has a slightly meatier texture which helps to prevent it from falling apart. Pickled Plum suggests grilling salmon with a black bean glaze, to add a rich and deep savoury taste.

Other fish such as seabass, monkfish, and swordfish are also great options too. If you’re hosting for a few guests, you could try barbecuing a variety of fish to see which is the favourite.

Chuanr – Xinjiang lamb skewers

Finally, we have included another skewer dish, which is a staple in the streets of Xinjiang in Northern China. Similar to a Middle Eastern style of kebab, these skewers consist of soft, cooked lamb that is served right off the grill. If you’re planning a Chinese New Year party, these skewers can be served on a large platter to cater for all! Generally seasoned with chilli, cumin, and Sichuan peppercorns, this lamb dish is packed full of flavour. Take a look at this recipe from Omnivore’s Cookbook to learn how to cook your skewers to perfection.

These skewers are good enough to eat on their own, but if you would like to add some sides, stir-fried vegetables are a great choice. The StreetWok LP20 is perfect for any event!

All of these dishes are bound to keep your guests satisfied – they will be coming back for more! If you own a restaurant, are an event planner, or even want to try barbecuing at home, these are the perfect dishes to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Reliable Barbecue Equipment

The barbecue equipment that we manufacture here in the UK is of the highest quality, made out of materials that are durable and reliable. Our grills perform to a high standard, enabling you to cook a range of dishes this Chinese New Year. Please feel free to browse our website, for information on where to purchase. Our barbecues are always available for immediate dispatch! If you only need a grill for your event, we also offer a local search for barbecue rental service.