Save A festive and colorful appetizer platter inspired by the dragon dance, featuring an assortment of Asian-inspired bites arranged to resemble a dragon—perfect for Lunar New Year celebrations.
This platter brings the spirit of Lunar New Year to life with vibrant colors and delicious flavors that my family and I always enjoy.
Ingredients
- Proteins: 8 cooked shrimp peeled and deveined, 8 slices Chinese BBQ pork (char siu) thinly sliced, 8 chicken potstickers (store-bought or homemade) cooked
- Vegetables: 1 cucumber thinly sliced, 2 carrots julienned, 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced, 1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced, 2 cups edamame cooked and shelled, 8 lettuce leaves (e.g. butter or romaine)
- Fruits & Garnishes: 1 small mango thinly sliced, 1 small dragon fruit sliced and cut into scales, 3 sprigs fresh cilantro, 1 small bunch chives or green onions (for whiskers), 1 sheet nori (seaweed) cut into small circles (for eyes/nose), 2 black olives or grapes (for nostrils)
- Dipping Sauces: ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, ¼ cup hoisin sauce
Instructions
- Step 1 Prepare all ingredients as directed:
- Cook potstickers and edamame slice vegetables and fruits and cut nori for facial features
- Step 2 Arrange lettuce:
- On a large serving platter or board arrange the lettuce leaves in a curving line to form the dragons body
- Step 3 Layer proteins:
- Layer BBQ pork shrimp and potstickers along the lettuce to create the dragons scales
- Step 4 Add colorful accents:
- Use sliced cucumber bell peppers carrots mango and dragon fruit to add colorful accents and define the dragons body and tail
- Step 5 Sculpt head:
- Sculpt the dragons head at one end using edamame mango and dragon fruit Use nori circles for eyes and black olives or grapes for nostrils Chives or green onions can form the dragons whiskers
- Step 6 Garnish:
- Garnish the platter with fresh cilantro sprigs for extra color
- Step 7 Arrange sauces:
- Arrange dipping sauces in small bowls around the platter
- Step 8 Serve:
- Serve immediately guests can pick and dip their favorite bites
Save This platter has become a tradition for our family Lunar New Year celebrations where everyone gathers and enjoys the vibrant display and flavors together
Required Tools
Large serving platter or board Sharp knife Small bowls for sauces Tongs or chopsticks
Allergen Information
Contains soy (soy sauce edamame) shellfish (shrimp) gluten (potstickers soy sauce hoisin) and sesame (if used) Check all labels for hidden allergens and adapt as needed
Nutritional Information
Calories 210 Total Fat 6 g Carbohydrates 24 g Protein 13 g per serving
Save This Lunar New Year dragon platter is both a feast for the eyes and the palate making your celebrations unforgettable
Recipe Questions
- → How do I create the dragon shape using the ingredients?
Arrange lettuce leaves in a curving line for the dragon's body, layer proteins like shrimp and pork as scales, and use sliced fruits and veggies to define the head and tail.
- → Can I prepare some components ahead of time?
Yes, cook shrimp, potstickers, and edamame in advance, and slice fruits and vegetables beforehand for easier assembly.
- → What dipping sauces complement this platter?
Soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, and hoisin sauce provide a delicious mix of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors that enhance the bites.
- → Are there vegetarian options for this platter?
Replace shrimp and pork with marinated tofu or extra vegetables, and use vegetarian potstickers to keep the platter plant-based.
- → How can I add more texture to the platter?
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds or crushed peanuts over the platter for added crunch and flavor contrast.