Savoring luck around the world: A culinary countdown for a lucky New Year!
As we count down to the New Year, let’s explore global traditions bidding farewell to the old, welcoming the new with hopes of health, wealth and good luck. Whether superstitious or a culinary adventurer, dive into the world of international foodie customs for a bountiful year ahead!
Grapes on Skewers: Let’s follow the Spanish tradition of consuming a grape for each stroke of the clock at midnight, symbolizing good luck for each month of the upcoming year.
Round Fruits: Various cultures like the Philippines, China, Vietnam and Indonesia include round fruits like oranges and apples. The circular shapes symbolize coins, wealth and prosperity.
Luck of the Irish Potato Bites: Create mini potato bites with Irish-inspired toppings, like Irish cheddar and chives, for a nod to Irish New Year’s traditions.
Mini Pork Sliders: Pork is one of the luckiest New Year’s foods from the Southern U.S. to celebrations worldwide. Pigs’ forward-rooting noses symbolize progress, richness from fat and prosperity from their plumpness. Make Mini Pork Southern Sliders: Bake mini corn muffins and create sliders with ham or pulled pork, compound butter (1/2 cup butter + 2 tbsp minced green onion) and a dab of fruit jam.
Black-Eyed Peas: In the South, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a classic tradition believed to bring luck and prosperity. From Alabama to Brazil, Georgia to Greece, and Florida to Italy, this legume is a global symbol of good fortune.
HOPPIN’ JOHN DIP Yield: 2 cups Total Time: 6 hours, 5 minutes
3 tablespoons apple cider or red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained Hot sauce, optional
In a mixing bowl, stir together the vinegar sugar, salt, olive oil and garlic. Add parsley, green onions, black-eyed peas and hot sauce if using. Cover and refrigerate at least six hours before serving.
Lentils: Many countries, including Italy, France, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Greece and Brazil, view the small legumes as symbols of coins in abundance, of good fortune and prosperity.
Here’s a delicious three-layer bruschetta starting with creamy whipped feta, followed by marinated lentils, topped with delicious tomatoes.
WHIPPED FETA Yield: 1 cup Total Time: 5 minutes
4 ounces feta cheese
3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small lemon, for zest, and 2 tablespoons juice One small clove of garlic, finely minced
Using a hand mixer or a blender, blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
MARINATED LENTILS Yield: 2 cups Total Time: 6 hours, 5 minutes
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar (or red wine or rice vinegar) 1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups cooked green lentils
Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Add the lentils to the marinade and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least six hours before serving.
TOMATO BRUSCHETTA Yield: 1 cup Total Time: 5 minutes
1 (15 ounce) can petite cut tomatoes with sweet onion and garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons minced parsley
In a mixing bowl, place all ingredients and stir to combine. Of course, I believe we make our own luck, but the connection we feel when we embrace these cultural traditions remind us of who we are, where we come from and the universal desire to prosper. Cheers to a very happy New Year!
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Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, partyplanning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@ divasonadime.com (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.