Festive Lunar New Year platter with shrimp, BBQ pork, potstickers, rice balls, and fresh vegetables in a dragon shape.
# Ingredient List:
→ Proteins
01 - 16 cooked shrimp, peeled with tails on
02 - 7 ounces sliced Chinese BBQ pork (char siu)
03 - 8 cooked chicken potstickers (store-bought or homemade)
→ Vegetables & Fruits
04 - 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
07 - 1 cup sugar snap peas, blanched
08 - 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
09 - 1 medium carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
10 - 1 small bunch fresh cilantro
11 - 1 small bunch green onions, sliced diagonally
→ Rice & Noodles
12 - 1 cup cooked sushi rice, cooled
13 - 8 pieces seaweed-wrapped rice balls (onigiri or sushi-style)
→ Sauces & Dips
14 - 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
15 - 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
16 - 1/2 cup soy sauce
17 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
→ Garnishes
18 - 1 red chili, thinly sliced (optional for dragon fire effect)
19 - 1 small mandarin orange, for dragon's pearl
20 - Black sesame seeds, for eyes and detailing
# Directions:
01 - Prepare and arrange all ingredients mise en place before starting assembly.
02 - On a large serving board, outline a winding dragon shape using the cucumber slices as the dragon’s body.
03 - Place shrimp, BBQ pork slices, chicken potstickers, and seaweed-wrapped rice balls along the cucumber to replicate dragon scales with varied textures and colors.
04 - Use bell pepper strips, blanched sugar snap peas, shredded purple cabbage, carrot matchsticks, and sliced green onions to craft the dragon’s fins, spines, and tail with vibrant accents.
05 - Shape the dragon’s head at one end using a rice ball, embellishing with black sesame seeds for eyes, red chili strips for whiskers or flames, and arrange cilantro to simulate a feathered mane.
06 - Place the small mandarin orange near the dragon’s mouth representing the pearl.
07 - Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds evenly over the entire arrangement to add texture and visual appeal.
08 - Present sweet chili sauce, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce in small bowls alongside for dipping.
09 - Optionally garnish with extra cilantro and green onions for freshness and serve immediately.
