As the full moon rises, the Mid-Autumn Festival brings families together for joyful reunions. At the heart of this celebration is a lavish feast, filled with dishes that delight the palate and carry deep cultural significance. Below are 12 mouthwatering dishes perfect for your Mid-Autumn table, complete with recipes and their symbolic meanings.
1. Steamed Sea Bass: Moonlit River Bass
Ingredients:
- Main: 1 fresh sea bass (500–700g)
- Supporting: 5–6 ginger slices, green onion shreds
- Seasoning: 2 tbsp steamed fish soy sauce, 1 tbsp cooking oil
Method: Clean bass, make slits, and place ginger slices underneath. Steam over boiling water for 8 minutes. Discard excess water, top with onion shreds, drizzle with hot oil and soy sauce.
Cultural Meaning: Sea bass symbolizes “abundance year after year”, its vibrant color and fresh taste perfect for a festive reunion feast.
2. Garlic Crab: Autumn Crab with Garlic
Ingredients:
- Main: 3–4 live crabs (~500g)
- Supporting: 2 heads garlic (minced), green onion
- Seasoning: 1 tbsp cooking wine, 1.5 tbsp soy sauce, pinch of salt
Method: Clean crabs, remove shells, and cut into pieces. Heat oil, sauté garlic until fragrant, add crab pieces, and stir-fry. Add wine, soy sauce, and salt; cook until crabs are done. Sprinkle with green onion.
Cultural Meaning: Mid-Autumn is prime crab season. Sharing succulent crabs embodies the taste of togetherness.
3. Spicy Poached Chicken: Sichuan Reunion Chicken
Ingredients:
- Main: 1 three-yellow chicken (~800g) or 4–5 chicken thighs
- Supporting: 3 tbsp minced garlic, green onion, 2 tbsp crushed peanuts, 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- Seasoning: 3 tbsp chili oil, 1 tbsp Sichuan pepper oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, pinch of salt
Method: Boil chicken, cool in ice water, and cut into pieces. Mix chili oil, pepper oil, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and sesame for sauce. Toss chicken in sauce, let it marinate, then top with peanuts and onion.
Cultural Meaning: Spicy and bold, this dish brings lively warmth to the reunion, its fiery flavors sparking festive cheer.
4. Beer-Braised Duck: Mid-Autumn Brewed Duck
Ingredients:
- Main: 1000g duck (half duck or thighs)
- Supporting: 5–6 ginger slices, 5–6 garlic cloves, 3–4 dried chilies, 2 star anise, green onion
- Seasoning: 20g rock sugar, 2 tbsp cooking oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, pinch of salt, 500ml beer
Method: Blanch duck, drain. Melt rock sugar in oil to caramelize, add duck, and stir-fry to color. Add ginger, garlic, chilies, star anise, then pour in beer, soy sauces, and salt. Simmer 30 minutes, reduce sauce, sprinkle with onion.
Cultural Meaning: The rich beer aroma enhances the festive mood, with tender duck symbolizing indulgence and joy.
5. Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp: Golden Prosperity Shrimp
Ingredients:
- Main: 500g fresh shrimp (~15–20)
- Supporting: 2 tbsp minced garlic, green onion
- Seasoning: 1 tbsp cooking wine, pinch of salt, 1.5 tbsp pepper-salt powder, cooking oil
Method: Clean shrimp, devein, marinate with wine and salt. Deep-fry until golden, drain. Sauté garlic and pepper-salt in oil, toss with shrimp, sprinkle with onion.
Cultural Meaning: Crisp and flavorful, shrimp signify rising prosperity, a must-have for a festive banquet.
6. Braised Beef Brisket with Radish: Warm Autumn Beef Pot
Ingredients:
- Main: 800g beef brisket, 1 daikon radish
- Supporting: 5 ginger slices, 4 garlic cloves, 2 star anise, green onion
- Seasoning: 2 tbsp cooking oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 15g rock sugar, pinch of salt
Method: Blanch brisket, drain. Sauté ginger and garlic, add brisket, and sear until golden. Add soy sauce, sugar, star anise, and water; simmer 1 hour. Add radish chunks, cook 30 minutes more, thicken sauce, top with onion.
Cultural Meaning: As autumn cools, this hearty, warming dish evokes abundance and comfort, perfect for family gatherings.
7. Red-Braised Pork: Lucky Reunion Pork
Ingredients:
- Main: 800g pork belly
- Supporting: 4–5 ginger slices, green onion
- Seasoning: 2 tbsp cooking oil, 20g rock sugar, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp cooking wine, pinch of salt
Method: Blanch pork, cut into chunks. Caramelize rock sugar in oil, add pork to color. Add soy sauce, wine, and water; simmer until tender. Thicken sauce, sprinkle with onion.
Cultural Meaning: This rich, savory dish symbolizes a prosperous, sweet life, beloved by all ages at the reunion table.
8. Mapo Tofu: Spicy Moonlit Tofu
Ingredients:
- Main: 300g soft tofu, 100g minced pork (optional)
- Supporting: 1 tbsp each minced ginger and garlic, green onion, 2 tbsp crushed peanuts
- Seasoning: 2 tbsp cooking oil, 1.5 tbsp doubanjiang (bean paste), 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp Sichuan pepper powder, pinch of salt
Method: Blanch tofu, drain. Sauté ginger, garlic, and bean paste; add chili and pepper powders (and pork, if using). Add tofu, gently stir, simmer 5 minutes. Top with peanuts and onion.
Cultural Meaning: This fiery, bold dish adds a lively kick to the feast, its heat warming the festive spirit.
9. Sweet-and-Sour Ribs: Autumn Memory Ribs
Ingredients:
- Main: 800g pork ribs
- Supporting: 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
- Seasoning: 2 tbsp cooking oil, 30g rock sugar, 3 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp cooking wine, pinch of salt (sauce ratio: sugar:vinegar:soy = 2:3:1)
Method: Blanch ribs, drain. Mix sauce (sugar, vinegar, soy, wine). Sear ribs in oil until golden, add sauce, simmer until sticky. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Cultural Meaning: The sweet-tangy flavor sparks joy, symbolizing a vibrant, flavorful life.
10. Mutton Stew with Radish: Cozy Autumn Mutton Pot
Ingredients:
- Main: 800g mutton, 1 daikon radish
- Supporting: 6–7 ginger slices, 5 garlic cloves, 2 star anise
- Seasoning: 2 tbsp cooking oil, 1.5 tbsp cooking wine, 1 tbsp soy sauce, pinch of salt
Method: Blanch mutton, drain. Sauté ginger, garlic, and star anise; add mutton, sear. Add water, wine, soy sauce, and salt; simmer 1 hour. Add radish, cook 30 minutes more.
Cultural Meaning: This warming stew comforts on cool autumn nights, symbolizing unity and fulfillment.
11. Four-Joy Meatballs: Festive Reunion Balls
Ingredients:
- Main: 500g ground pork (30% fat)
- Supporting: 2 tbsp each minced onion and ginger, green onion
- Seasoning: cooking oil, 1 tbsp cooking wine, 1.5 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 10g rock sugar, 2 tbsp starch, pinch of salt, cornstarch slurry
Method: Mix pork with onion, ginger, wine, soy sauce, salt, and starch; form 4 large meatballs (~100g each). Fry until golden, drain. Sauté onion and ginger, add water, dark soy sauce, and sugar; simmer meatballs 20 minutes. Thicken with slurry.
Cultural Meaning: Four meatballs symbolize complete harmony, embodying family unity and joy.
12. Beef and Enoki Tomato Hotpot: Warm Reunion Pot
Ingredients:
- Main: 300g beef rolls, 200g enoki mushrooms, 2 tomatoes
- Supporting: 2 ginger slices, green onion, cilantro
- Seasoning: 1 tbsp cooking oil, 1 tbsp tomato paste, pinch of salt, 1 tsp soy sauce, 500ml water or bone broth
Method: Dice tomatoes, clean enoki. Sauté ginger, stir-fry tomatoes until saucy, add paste and broth, boil. Add enoki, cook 3 minutes, then add beef rolls until cooked. Season with salt and soy, garnish with onion and cilantro.
Cultural Meaning: This steaming hotpot, with tender beef, crisp enoki, and tangy tomatoes, fosters togetherness and symbolizes a prosperous, vibrant life.
These 12 dishes will fill your Mid-Autumn table with flavor and meaning. Which ones will you cook to make your reunion shine? Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
References:
- Traditional Chinese culinary practices and Mid-Autumn Festival customs
- Recipes adapted from regional Chinese cooking traditions
