What else do we have as Chinese New Year Dish? Black Moss? Hair Vegetable? Get Rich?
As mentioned in our previous blog post, homonyms are prevalent in Cantonese, especially with Chinese New Year festive greetings and with names of food served during this time of the year.
This evening, we had one such dish — 發財好事 — literally translates as Be Prosperous, Great Things. Or more generally, it means great fortune. The dish features two main ingredients. One is 髮菜, literally translated as “hair vegetable” is black moss, but it is phonetically pronounced like 發財 (Be Prosperous).
Black Moss
Another ingredient is 蠔豉, or dried oysters, which sounds like 好事, or great things. It is believed that having this dish will bring lots of good fortune for the new year.
Dried Oysters
Both black moss and dried oysters are expensive ingredients, especially big, whole dried oysters. They are usually prepared first by being soaked to get them softened. It is often served with dried Chinese mushroom and vegetables. Here they are served with baby bak choy.
Black Moss with Dried Oysters
Enjoy! We wish you a very prosperous Year of the Horse!
