In ancient times, when the ancestors of the land of China gathered together to spend Chinese New Year's Eve together, there was always a mysterious and unique dish on their Chinese New Year's Eve dinner table - "Wuxin plate". The name of the dish sounds curious, but what is its main ingredient? Is it five spicy vegetables, or five spicy spices? Let's unveil the mystery of this ancient Chinese New Year's Eve meal.
In fact, the main ingredients of the five spice dishes are five kinds of spicy vegetables. These vegetables were given a special meaning in ancient times, not only adding a spicy flavor to the Chinese New Year's Eve meal, but also placing people's good wishes to ward off evil and avoid harm and pray for health.
So, what exactly are these five spicy vegetables? According to historical records and folklore, they are onions, garlic, leeks, coriander, and brassica. These five vegetables have been widely cultivated and used in ancient times, and their unique spicy taste and aroma make Wuxin plate an indispensable dish in the Chinese New Year's Eve meal.
Green onions, with their spicy and fragrant characteristics, have become an important member of the five-spice plate. In ancient times, green onions were regarded as a magical plant that could ward off evil spirits, so they occupied a place in the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. Garlic, likewise loved for its spicy taste and unique aroma. In the eyes of the ancients, garlic has the effect of sterilization, anti-inflammatory, and enhancing physical strength, and is an indispensable health care product in the Chinese New Year's Eve meal.
Leeks, with their tender green color and unique spicy flavor, add a touch of life to the Wuxin plate. In ancient times, leeks were seen as messengers of spring, and their appearance heralded that the new year would be full of hope and vitality. Coriander, also known as coriander, has a unique and rich aroma that brings a richer taste experience to the Wuxin plate. In ancient times, coriander was believed to have the effect of appetizing and dissipating cold, and was a good seasoning in Chinese New Year's Eve rice.
The last vegetable is brassica, which may be relatively unfamiliar to modern people. But in ancient times, brassica was a common vegetable, and its spicy taste and unique texture added a different flavor to the five-spice plate.
In addition to these five spicy vegetables, the preparation of the five spices plate also pays attention to knife work and seasoning. The ancients would cut these five kinds of vegetables into thin strips or minced pieces, and then add an appropriate amount of salt, vinegar, soy sauce and other seasonings to mix well. This not only makes the taste of the five spices more delicious, but also allows the spicy taste and aroma of various vegetables to fully blend together to form a delicious dish with good color and flavor.
At the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner table, the Wuxin plate usually appears as an appetizer or side dish. Its spicy flavor stimulates the appetite and prepares the way for the next big meal. At the same time, the five kinds of vegetables in the Wuxin plate also imply the "five blessings", symbolizing family happiness and career prosperity in the new year.
It is worth mentioning that Wuxin Pan was not only a delicacy in ancient times, but also carried profound cultural connotations and symbolic meanings. In the belief of the ancients, the spicy taste can drive away evil spirits and purify the body and mind, so Wuxin Pan is also regarded as a food with the effect of driving away evil spirits. Eating Wuxin plate on Chinese New Year's Eve symbolizes praying for a safe, healthy and smooth new year.
In addition, the production and consumption of Wuxin Pan also reflect the awe and gratitude of the ancients for nature and life. In the ancient society where materials were scarce, it was undoubtedly a luxury and enjoyment for ordinary people to have such a colorful Chinese New Year's Eve meal dish. Therefore, in the process of making and eating Wuxin plate, people are also full of gratitude for nature and love for life.
Nowadays, with the changes of the times and the development of food culture, Wuxin plate, an ancient Chinese New Year's Eve dish, has gradually faded out of the vision of modern people. However, in some traditional family or local specialty restaurants, we can still taste this dish full of historical charm and cultural connotation. When we taste the spicy and delicious taste of Wuxin Pan, it seems that we can also feel the love of life and the vision of the ancients for a better future.
2024 Chinese New Year outlook