Gold Bags

The coincidence of Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day falling on the same day this year in the year of the Tiger has been the talk of the town. God knows how many times this can actually happen. But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Valentine's day is about spending the day with the one you love. Just so it happens, this year for a change, you get to spend the day with the ONES you love. Extended families and all. The more the merrier? =P

Hearty breakfast in conjunction with Valentine's Day.

And of course not forgetting the Chinese festival, the auspicious New Year dish I am sharing on my food blog this year is Gold Bags. The name of the dish is pretty self-explanatory. Gold bags are in fact just deep fried dumplings. (similar to Deep Fried Wantons) Nonetheless, these morsels symbolize good luck, wealth and good fortune.

The preparation is just like packaging luck inside the dumpling, which is later eaten. Ways of cooking include steaming, boiling and shallow fried. Dumplings are eaten traditionally in northern China.

Ingredients
1 packet of wanton skin
300g of minced pork
5 water chestnuts (peeled and finely diced)
10 prawns (finely diced)
1/2 stalk of spring onion (finely chopped)
1 egg (beaten)
1 tablespoon of soya sauce
1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon of cornflour
Chive/Spring onion

Preparation
Mix pork, water chestnuts, prawns, finely chopped spring onions and egg together in a bowl.
Season with soya sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornflour.
Set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Place small portions on the wanton skins to wrap.
Secure the wantons by tying them with stalk of chive/spring onion.
Deep fry the wrapped wantons over medium high heat.
Remove from heat when the wantons turn golden brown.

Serve hot.

Last but not least, wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day &
a Happy Lunar New Year! Huat ah!!