The Chinese (or Lunar) New Year begins on January 22, ushering in the start of the Year of the Rabbit – the luckiest animal in the Chinese Zodiac. A typical celebration includes visiting relatives, hanging lanterns, exchanging auspicious greetings and lucky red envelopes with cash, wearing new clothes and taking a break from cleaning. And then there's the food, with certain dishes and ingredients said to bring good luck. Whether you're hosting a big family feast or just looking for some dishes to make at home, here are some of our favourite traditional and 'with a twist' dishes to try, from delicious dumplings to slurpy noodles.

Fish is a common Chinese New Year menu staple due to its association with luck and prosperity. The word for fish (鱼 yú) shares its pronunciation with the word for surplus (余 yú), making it a symbolic food that represents an increase in wealth and abundance. Chef Ken Hom’s steamed fish, Cantonese style, is perfect for a light and easy main course, packed with flavour.

Get the recipe for Ken Hom's steamed fish, Cantonese style, here

Not only are dumplings delicious – they're said to bring good fortune. These tasty mouthfuls represent wealth due to their shape and, according to legend, the more dumplings you eat during the celebrations, the more money you're likely to make in the year ahead. We don't need any more excuses to try these traditional poached pork jiaozi dumplings. If you are up for the challenge, you can make the dough yourself, though shop-bought wrappers will do.

Get the recipe for poached pork jiaozi dumplings here

Dumplings come in many shapes and forms. Siu mai, or steamed dumplings, are a typical dim sum dish, shaped like an open cup revealing a glimpse of the filling – in this case, juicy pork and prawn. They are perfect if you're hosting a party, as they can be made ahead of time and can even be cooked from frozen.

Get the recipe for pork and prawn dumplings here

These crispy little bites are a true delicacy, packing in everything we love about dim sum. With a silky, savoury prawn filling and crispy wrapper, they're perfectly balanced, mouth-watering morsels that will work wonderfully as a side dish or pre-dinner snack.

Get the recipe for crispy wontons here

What better dumplings to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit? These adorable rabbit-shaped dumplings are filled with prawn and bamboo shoots, with the outer skins shaped into fluffy-looking balls with ears. Sesame seeds stand in for eyes, adding the final (very cute) touch.

Get the recipe for steamed prawn and bamboo shoot 'rabbit' dumplings here

Golden gyoza dumplings are a must for the celebration, and this recipe with tofu, mushrooms and carrot makes a perfect vegetarian alternative for the festivities. The best part? The contrast between the crispy, caramelised skin on one side of the dumpling and the soft, steamed bite of the other. Beautiful.

Get the recipe for gyoza dumplings with tofu and mushrooms here

This really is a case of winner, winner, chicken dinner. Chicken is another auspicious food, as the Chinese word for it sounds the same as the word ji (吉), which means good luck and prosperity. Cookbook author Suzie Lee’s version of Hainanese chicken is a simple yet luscious dish that's perfect for a family gathering.

Get the recipe for Hainanese chicken rice here

Whole chicken is another perfect choice that will bring luck to your New Year. Not only because, as mentioned before, chicken means luck, but because a whole animal symbolises unity and wholeness. For a modern take that incorporates Chinese and British flavours, try this roast chicken paired with a zingy ginger mayonnaise.

Get the recipe for roast chicken with ginger mayonnaise here

There’s no better, or more traditional, show-stopper for a Chinese New Year feast than a whole roast duck. Considered a delicacy, duck is an obvious choice for the celebrations, especially when the occasion represents wealth and unity for the upcoming year.

Get the recipe for Cantonese-style roast duck here

This lobster feast, served on braised noodles, is an opulent main dish that sums up much of what Lunar New Year is all about: indulging and visualising what we want the new season to bring. The buttery richness of the dish is balanced out with tangy ginger and some fresh, crunchy spring onions.

Get the recipe for lobster with ginger and spring onion here

Chinese New Year spreads tend to be very heavy on the meat cuts – being able to afford good meat is often considered a sign of wealth and good fortune. And if there is one meat that Chinese cuisine does exceptionally well, it's pork, one of the most consumed proteins in the country. Sticky ribs will be an excellent addition to your feast, combining the smoky flavour of barbecue with the aromatic spices of Asian cuisine.

Get the recipe for Chinese sweet sticky ribs here

New Year is a time to ask for the arrival of spring, and eating spring rolls during the New Year’s Eve celebrations is a way to call the season forward. Their golden, crunchy exterior is as delightful as it is lucky, with golden hues being a sign of wealth and prosperity. These shredded duck spring rolls are sublime dipped in sweet and sour sauce. For a fuss-free approach, these can also be cooked in an air-fryer.

Get the recipe for shredded duck spring rolls here

Tang yuan are traditional doughy balls made from glutinous rice flour, filled with sweet or savoury fillings such as black sesame or red bean paste and typically served in a sweet syrup or soup. They are immensely popular during the Chinese Lantern Festival, usually held on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The dumplings' round shape is said to represent togetherness and reunion. This recipe, from chef Ching-he Huang, brings together the auspicious trio of tang yuan, noodles and meatballs in one fragrant bowl.

Get the recipe for pork tang yuan dumplings and meatballs noodle soup here

Yi Mein, or longevity noodles, are a must-have for the New Year. Symbolising a long, healthy life, they're typically flat and long Cantonese egg noodles and, for luck, they should be slurped whole and never cut. These dan dan noodles are an excellent quick and easy alternative for a simple Lunar New Year feast with minimal effort.

Get the recipe for cheat's dan dan noodles here

When we think of noodles, this classic takeaway dish might come to mind. Who doesn’t love a good chow mein? You can cook it at home for a quick and tasty way to mark the festival. Just remember to slurp the noodles whole, as is the tradition.

Get the recipe for Ken Hom's chicken chow mein here

In Chinese, the word for prawns is 'ha'. Because of the word's similarity to laughter, they're associated with happiness. This recipe is sure to bring you joy. Ken Hom's Sichuan prawns in chilli sauce are perfect to start the year with a kick.

Get the recipe for Ken Hom's Sichuan prawns in chilli sauce here

For a joyous New Year’s celebration, how about trying this Chinese-inspired sweet and sour prawns recipe by Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain? The recipe packs a punch but is wonderfully quick and easy, and made with ingredients that are easily available.

Get the recipe for Nadiya Hussain’s sweet and sour prawns here

At Chinese New Year, leafy greens are another call to the spring, with the renewal, energy and prosperity the season should bring. Bok choy is particularly associated with wealth and luck. Searing your bok choy adds a delicious charred note to the dish.

Get the recipe for ginger bok choy and sweet peas with miso-glazed tofu here

Chinese broccoli is associated with harmony, and there's nothing more harmonious than an easy vegetable recipe that packs a real flavour punch. These roasted broccoli florets absorb the Sichuan sauce perfectly in this modern Chinese American recipe.

Get the recipe for Kung Pao roasted broccoli here

In Chinese, the word for lettuce sounds a bit like the word for becoming wealthy, which is why these lettuce cups are a great way to start the year in abundance – and health. Gordon Ramsay brings us this recipe for pan-fried duck breasts with cucumber, all nestled in a crisp iceberg lettuce cup.

Get the recipe for Gordon Ramsay’s stir-fried duck in lettuce cups here

If duck isn't your thing, then lucky chicken is a perfect alternative. Lettuce cups are a popular appetiser at many Chinese restaurants for a reason. The crunchy lettuce provides a refreshing bite next to the saltiness of the chicken.

Get the recipe for Hoisin chicken lettuce cups here

For a vegetarian alternative that's filling and hearty, try these delicious grilled aubergines. They work perfectly as a side dish or as a main. They're also, fittingly, packed with fresh ingredients perfect for welcoming the spring.

Get the recipe for grilled aubergine with Chinese salsa verde here

This fantastic Chinese-inspired veggie alternative will leave people wanting more. It's worth making extra of the bright red, deliciously tangy sauce, which will keep for weeks in the fridge. Red is a lucky colour too, so it's a win-win.

Get the recipe for sweet 'n' sour cauliflower here

This egg fried rice is a quick, easy and filling side dish for a feast, or a main for a more understated celebration. This recipe is an excellent starting point but make it your own with your favourite vegetables and proteins, to create your own house special.

Get the recipe for egg fried rice here

No feast is complete without dessert and no Lunar New Year celebration is lucky without some fruit, so why not combine the two? Fruits like tangerines are typically eaten because the round shape and golden hue signify fullness and wealth. Jamie Oliver's tangerine cake – while not traditionally Chinese – pays homage to this fruit.

Get the recipe for tangerine dream cake here

These individual upside-down cakes, paired with a zingy and tart cranberry sauce, are the perfect sweet treat. Not only are they packed with the good omens associated with clementines, but they also incorporate the golden and red colours that are traditional for the festivities.

Get the recipe for clementine sponges with cranberry sauce here

Pomegranate is another delicious fruit that's perfect for the Lunar New Year celebrations. The plentiful red seeds represent abundance and fertility, so this pomegranate passion cake is the perfect final flourish to your feast.

Get the recipe for pomegranate passion cake here