Recipes — Sesame

Gai lan, also known as Chinese Broccoli, is a favorite vegetable for celebrating the Lunar New Year. Since its vibrant, leafy greens symbolize wealth in the year ahead, all the more reason to eat your vegetables. Similar in flavor to regular broccoli, gai lan has a slightly bitter note which pairs wonderfully with the zesty accents of ginger, garlic and toasted sesame.

The traditions associated with the Chinese Lunar New Year are full of auspicious meanings. Following a set of customs passed down over generations, many families welcome health, wealth and good relationships for the coming year. Among many symbolic dishes, potstickers are served by the plateful and eaten with family. Whether steamed, fried or with any number of fillings, they symbolize prosperity and riches, as the dumplings themselves resemble gold ingots.

Recipe developed for La Tourangelle by Holly Le Du from Bloomingdale’s