New Year 2024 is just around the corner, and it’s time to think about what to prepare for the festive table so that the guests are well-fed and the symbol of the coming year - the Dragon - is happy.
What must be on the table in the Year of the Dragon
Preparations for the Chinese New Year celebrations begin with the purchase of fresh spices and seasonings. In the Year of the Dragon, these ingredients play a special role, so garlic, hot red pepper, ginger, cloves and anise must be present in festive dishes.
Fish and seafood are the favorite delicacies of the fire-breathing snake. However, the predator will also be happy with well-cooked meat, which will become even tastier with hot sauce or spices.
There must be fresh fruit on the table, especially oranges.
You can serve any sweets for dessert, but it’s best to try cooking something original. The symbol of the coming year, he loves experiments, so he will certainly appreciate your efforts.
What not to put on the holiday table
It is not recommended to serve dishes made from rabbit and hare, as it is believed that the majestic and noble Dragon will be unpleasant to see on the table the animal that, according to legend, he saved.
Chicken dishes are too simple for a predator, and canned food and semi-finished products are completely unacceptable on the holiday table.
How to decorate a holiday table
The lucky flowers of the New Year 2024 according to the eastern calendar are:
- gold;
- silver;
- white and all its shades (milk, cream, ecru);
- gray (from graphite to soft gray, you can choose both warm and cold shades);
- scarlet and its shades;
- chocolate.
Tablecloths, napkins and other festive table decor can be selected in a range that matches the symbol of the year. You can also decorate the table with wooden Dragon figurines.
What to cook for the holiday table
Especially for readers of Turkmenportal, the chef of the Soltan restaurant chain offers several interesting ideas for the menu for the New Year's table in accordance with the traditions of Turkish cuisine.
Snack
“Chig kofte” cutlets: bulgur (3 cups), onion (1 pc.), tomato paste (2 tbsp.), pepper paste (3 tbsp.), garlic, herbs, salt, hot pepper (red and black), lemon (for serving).
How to cook: pour bulgur into a deep plate and pour two cups of boiling water. Cover with a lid and let it brew. After the liquid is absorbed, add grated onion and garlic, tomato paste, herbs and spices to taste. Mix. Form cutlets from the prepared mixture. Serve with lemon wedges.
Salad
Salad with fried tomatoes: tomatoes, preferably cherry tomatoes (400 g), a mixture of lettuce leaves, garlic (1 clove), natural yogurt (200 ml), olive oil, salt and ground black pepper.
How to cook: fry cherry tomatoes in olive oil until crusty. Mix yoghurt with 50 ml olive oil. Add finely chopped garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Season the resulting sauce with a mixture of lettuce leaves and garnish with fried tomatoes.
Hot dish
Kurdan kebab: minced beef (350 g), long eggplant (2 pcs.), tomatoes (2 pcs.), onions (1 pc.), tomato paste (2 tbsp.), parsley, salt and ground black pepper.
How to cook: cut the eggplants into strips 0.5 cm thick (you will need 10 strips). To remove bitterness, salt the eggplants well and set aside for 20 minutes. Then you need to rinse the eggplants under cold water, dry and fry on both sides.
Add finely chopped onions and parsley to the minced meat, salt and pepper. Make small cutlets and fry. Cut the tomatoes into slices.
Fold two strips of eggplant crosswise and place one cutlet in the center. Wrap the cutlet in eggplant strips, place a slice of tomato on top and secure with a toothpick. Place the cutlets assembled in this way in a mold, fill them with tomato paste (diluted in 1 glass of water) and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
To ease the pre-New Year's worries, the Soltan restaurant chain offers home delivery service. Meal delivery will save time and effort, which can be spent on preparing for the holiday or communicating with loved ones.
Delivery from Soltan is a guarantee of quality and taste. All dishes are prepared only from fresh ingredients according to traditional Turkish recipes. The restaurant menu also includes popular European dishes and fast food.
Desserts in Soltan restaurants are a special category of dishes that deserve special attention. Cakes with various fillings, delicate cheesecakes, airy cakes, Turkish sweets and much more.
The Soltan restaurant chain congratulates the residents of Turkmenistan on the upcoming New Year and invites them to enjoy delicious food and a pleasant atmosphere at the following addresses:
- Shopping and entertainment center “Berkarar”, 3rd floor, D 17. Phones: (+993 65) 30 88 88, (+993 12) 46 84 44, (+993 12) 46 88 44;
- Shopping and entertainment center “Berkarar”, 3rd floor, D 2. Phones: (+993 61) 60 60 60, (+993 12) 46 88 08, (+993 12) 46 88 09;
- Shopping and entertainment center “Berkarar”, 3rd floor, K 1. Phones: (+993 60) 20 50 02, (+993 12) 46 84 80, (+993 12) 46 84 81;
- st. Andalib, 80 B, 2nd floor (Parahat-4). Phones: (+993 65) 69 16 16, (+993 12) 47 40 25, (+993 12) 47 40 26;
- Magtymguly avenue 217, Gül Zemin shopping center, 3rd floor, D 09. Phones: (+993 63) 20 86 86, (+993 12) 90 33 70, (+993 12) 90 33 80;
- Shopping and entertainment center “Ashgabat”, 3rd floor C-3.24. Phones: (+993 62) 21 86 86, (+993 12) 41 54 50, (+993 12) 41 54 51;
- st. G. Kuliyev (Obyezdnaya), no. 72, 2nd floor. Phones: (+993 65) 72 61 62, (+993 12) 75 48 44, (+993 12) 75 49 44, (+993 64) 69 44 44, (+993 12) 75 35 55, (+993 12) 75 36 66.
Resources: ren.tv; www.russianfood.com; eda.ru; kulinario.me
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