I love Asian inspired recipes. Chinese. Vietnamese. Korean. Each region offers a flavor and technique that I love. While some may be nontraditional, I’m sharing gluten free recipes I think we’d all be lucky to eat this Lunar New Year!
When Does Lunar New Year Start?
Unlike the American calendar, the New Year starts on a different date each year in the Asian world. It is determined by the Lunar Calendar. Per Wake Forest University, “the holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The dates usually range sometime between January 21 and February 20.”
What Dishes Are Eaten During Lunar New Year?
Did you know that in the Asian culture, the number 8 is lucky? There are 8 foods traditionally eaten during this holiday. That includes dumplings, spring rolls, fish, cured meats, noodles, fruit, eight treasures rice, and glutinous rice balls.
Glutinous Rice Does Not Contain Gluten
Despite the name, please know that glutinous rice doesn’t contain gluten. What is glutinous rice, then? Per Wikipedia, “Glutinous rice is a type of rice grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia, and the northeastern regions of South Asia, which has opaque grains, very low amylose content, and is especially sticky when cooked. It is widely consumed across Asia.”
Soy Sauce and Gluten Free Asian Food Ingredients
One of the biggest issues when it comes to gluten free Asian Cuisine is soy sauce. While soy itself contains no gluten, traditional soy sauce is fermented with wheat. I prefer to buy San-J Tamari.
When I first wrote this blog post, I included recipes from fellow bloggers I knew. However, I realized that almost none of the recipe creators I included came from Asian backgrounds. I updated this to specifically include AAPI writers.
These tasty homemade gluten-free potstickers (a.k.a. pot stickers) are paleo, grain-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, and they’re just as deliciously authentic as you remember! They’ll even satisfy your dumpling-lovin’ non-paleo pals!
Wontons are very popular customary food staple in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. These gluten free wonton wrappers are highly versatile. They can be used for wontons as well as gluten free dumplings, siu mai, and eggrolls recipes.
Longing for crispy egg rolls? These rice paper egg rolls, also known as Vietnamese Chả Giò, are naturally gluten free! They pair greatly with a bowl of egg drop soup!
These tangy gluten free lettuce wraps are a fun appetizer. If you love P.F. Chang’s Gluten Free Lettuce Wraps, you will want to try this quick and easy lettuce wrap recipe. These wraps are fresh and flavorful. Make a lettuce wrap party for your next family meal!
Tteokguk is Korean Rice Cake Soup that is a must for Koreans on New Year’s Day. This hearty warm soup has a delicious savory broth and chewy rice cake rounds that makes it the ultimate comfort food any time of the year!
Not a fan of tofu? I wasn’t a fan either, when I was younger. However, after coating and baking tofu in the oven, I fell in love. It works great in this Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Tofu recipe!
Singapore Noodles are one of our go-to’s when we get a craving for Chinese takeout. With plenty of curry powder and thin rice noodles, it’s a family favorite. In fact, Singapore Noodles is one of the dishes we use to gauge how good a Chinese takeout joint is!
Spicy peanut noodles are a flavorful and satisfying dish that you can prepare in no time. Made with homemade garlic chili sauce, these noodles are packed with rich, creamy, and spicy flavors that will excite your taste buds.
Panda express orange chicken (air fryer or stovetop)
Making Panda Express Orange Chicken at home is healthy, affordable, and tastes just like the real thing! This gluten-free recipe uses fresh, accessible ingredients and includes instructions for cooking in an air fryer or on the stovetop.
Crispy Orange Chicken Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) – Quick and Easy!
Delicious & easy crispy orange chicken recipe made without refined sugars! The thick sauce is so wonderful and the dish is seriously better than takeout.
Better-than-takeout paleo chicken lo mein is made using chewy cassava flour noodles, chicken, and veggies coated in the most flavorful sauce! It can easily be made Whole30 and low carb using zucchini noodles as well.
Moo Goo Gai Pan recipe is what you make when you crave good food fast! With tender juicy chicken breasts, crisp vegetables, and a deeply savory-sweet moo goo gai pan sauce, this easy one-pot meal, made paleo and whole30, tastes light, fresh, and oh-so-yummy! The whole family will love this dish so get your chopsticks ready!
Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe with Paleo sweet and sour sauce that’s made with pineapple juice and apricots. It tastes just like your favorite Chinese restaurants but much healthier!
Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken (Whole30, Gluten Free, Paleo)
Craving Chinese takeout? This easy Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken recipe doesn’t call for a wok or even a large skillet! Best of all, it tastes utterly authentic despite being paleo, gluten-free, and Whole30-compatible!
A Chinese style steamed fish can be enjoyed anytime of the year. It’s an especially auspicious dish to serve during Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year).
Best Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles) – Authentic and Amazing
Japchae is a classic Korean Glass Noodle dish that is served as a side dish or appetizer. Mild in flavor, this is a great first dish to try if you never had Korean food before.
Quick and easy beef and broccoli ramen stir fry dish that’s perfect for a healthy weeknight meal! Steak slices and crisp tender broccoli are combined with ramen noodles, and tossed in the most wonderful tamari-based sauce. It’s gluten free and and kid-friendly as well!
This most popular Korean BBQ Beef dish is made from marinated thin slices of beef marinated in sweet garlicky soy sauce that is traditionally grilled over an open flame.
Korean Bi bim bap is my favorite meal in the world. It literally means “mixed rice, and it’s topped with an egg. Life doesn’t get much better than that.
Congee originates from Chinese cooking, and really is the easiest thing you could ever make. If you have rice, and water, you can make a large pot of congee to last you throughout the week.
Onigiri is made from rice and savory fillings. This naturally gluten free dish can be made with any filling you wish! Perfect substitute for sandwiches
This SUPER EASY Tang Yuan recipe is made with glutinous rice flour (which is actually gluten-free), and it only takes 10 minutes from start to finish! Tang Yuan can be served as a dessert or even savory. The texture is soft, a bit sticky, a bit chewy- a texture Taiwanese simply can’t get enough of!
Asians love glutinous rice desserts, and one of the most recognizable is mochi. Gluten-Free, Vegan and just plain tasty, it’s no wonder that this Peanut Mochi with Coconut, or Nuo Mi Ci (糯米糍) is so popular.
Wonderfully light and delicate Korean tea cookies (Dasik) aretraditional no-bake cookies that are made to serve honored guests and wish them good health and fortune in the New Year.
Chinese New Year Cake “Nian Gao” is a very traditional steamed rice cake dessert with special meaning in the Chinese culture. This dessert also happens to be free of the top 9 food allergens and very allergy friendly.
“Eight Precious Pudding,” also called “Eight Treasure Rice Pudding” in Chinese, is a traditional dessert made with steamed glutinous rice, usually layered with red bean paste, and topped with a variety of eight different dried fruits and nuts.
Jade Truffles ~~ a little treat for the Chinese New Year
Beautiful jade colored, glazed dessert balls with a chocolate “donut hole” filling. This raw vegan recipe is gluten-free and so pretty. It's a perfect holiday dessert.
Chinese New Year Steamed Prosperity Cakes (Fa Gao)
These Chinese New Year Steamed prosperity cakes resemble cupcakes or muffins. The main ingredients used for steamed prosperity cakes are normally rice flour, yeast, sugar and bright colourful food colouring.
What other Asian dishes are you missing? Tell me in the comments and I’ll consider adding them to my round-up!
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What a wonderful round up of new dinner ideas to try!
Thanks! Now I want Lo Mein and to try the rice balls from Light Orange Bean!
you’re more than welcome!
I cant wait to try your Sweet and Sour Recipe!
This is such a great round up of GF and allergy friendly recipes to celebrate the lunar new year. Thank you for such a thoughtful post.
You’re welcome!