Another important protein is a whole chicken, which represents togetherness and unity. Back in the day, chicken was a luxury for a lot of families so it was only served during important events such as Chinese New Year, when the whole family was together.

Again, serving it whole is imperative, as it symbolises the reunion of the whole family. The chicken is usually steamed or roasted.

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These sticky and sweet rice cakes are made of glutinous rice flour and considered to be good luck when eaten. Nian gao, as it is called in Mandarin, is also believed to be an offering to the Kitchen God with the hope that the sticky cake will keep his mouth shut so he cannot badmouth the family in front of the Jade Emperor. 

The words 年 (nián) and 糕 (gāo) is a homonym for "to grow every year", thus symbolising hope for success in life. In Malaysia, nian gao is typically prepared by slicing and steaming before being coated in desiccated coconut, or slicing and deep frying with a batter. 

See also: Homegrown brands boasting healthier Chinese New Year treats

Spring rolls are a symbol of wealth and good fortune, thanks to their resemblance to gold bars. These little delights are also eaten as a symbol of the arrival of the spring season. 

They are popular year-round but are especially significant during Chinese New Year. They are typically deep fried and stuffed with shredded vegetables, minced prawns or minced pork. 

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As its name suggests, these noodles are representative of longevity and a happy life. Commonly served in the southern regions of China, these noodles are super long and thin, and served stir-fried with vegetables and meat or in soup.

The noodles are also served at other celebratory meals such as birthday dinners and wedding banquets. 

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Dumplings, or jiao zi, are commonly prepared and eaten during Chinese New Year as they are supposed to emulate little pouches of money and gold ingots. Therefore, the more dumplings, the better!

These pouches are typically stuffed with pork, prawns, or vegetables, and steamed, pan-fried, or deep fried. Symbolism aside, making these dumplings are also a great activity for the whole family to bond before the reunion dinner.

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No Chinese New Year meal is complete without yee sang in Malaysia. The tossing of yee sang is believed to bring good fortune. 

Auspicious greetings are usually uttered during the tossing; common wishes include 身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng - to be healthy), 万事如意 (wànshì rúyì - may everything go well), 年年有余 (nián nián yǒuyú - to have a surplus of abundance every year), and lastly, 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái - wishing you prosperity and wealth).

Symbolic ingredients in yee sang include fish like salmon, white radish, carrots, cucumbers, peanuts, pomelo, and Chinese parsley. 

See also: Yee Sang's ingredients, their symbolism and the auspicious greetings

Loosely translated, poon choi means "a treasure pot", "big bowl feast", or even "basin cuisine". A traditional Cantonese dish, poon choi has made its way across geographical borders to become a significant dish in many Malaysian-Chinese festive banquets.

Layered with auspicious ingredients such as abalones, sea cucumbers, shiitake mushrooms, fish maw, prawns, and waxed meats, poon choi is the culmination of all the quintessential Chinese New Year flavours in a single dish. 

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