Sssspectacular Asian Vegetables to Celebrate the Year of the Snake

The Western World just ushered in the New Year for 2025, but many Asian Americans also celebrate the Chinese New Year, which begins on January 29th. It is also referred to as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year as it is celebrated on the night of the first new moon of the lunar calendar. It is a 16-day festival celebrating many Chinese traditions. 

It is the Year of the Snake, and it is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac signs, coming after the Dragon and before the Horse. According to legend, the Snake was hiding in the Horse’s hooves as she sneakily planned its next move! Those born in 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, or 1917, are probably a Snake. The next Snake birthday will be 2037! 

Just like any celebration, it all starts with traditional cultural foods. For this article, we will focus on traditional Chinese vegetables. Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the year in Chinese culture celebrated worldwide, and FOOD plays a big part with many different dishes symbolizing different things such as wealth, fortune, and health! 

Vegetables are the center of Chinese food and cuisine, with leafy green vegetables served at each meal. When it comes to popular green Asian vegetables, the Western world is just now discovering the wide variety available at Western and Asian markets. 

The family of Bok Choy, also known as Chinese cabbage, is great for stir-fries and noodle dishes, steamed, grilled, or added to soups. The stems are white, thick, and crispy, with leaves that are sort or ruffled. The color ranges from pale green to dark green. Regular size bok choy has a milder flavor than regular cabbage, and the leaves taste more like lettuce leaves. Bok Choy comes in many sizes, including: 

Baby Milk Bok Choy. Smaller than the regular size bok choy with smaller stalks and tops, it tends to be milder in taste with a hint of sweetness and can be used the same way as regular size bok choy. You can use all the parts of the bok choy in stir-fries, sautéed with garlic, lemon juice, and soy sauce. It can be served as a side dish or added to meat dishes or dumplings. 

Petite Baby Bok Choy is smaller than baby milk bok choy and is sweeter with a delicate mustard flavor. Because they are so small, they can be eaten whole or served asa vegetable dish with stir-fries. 

Chinese Broccoliis another favorite and similar in taste to regular broccoli but slightly more bitter, yet it pairs well with beef with oyster sauce and garlic as it compliments or offsets the bitterness in the broccoli. Again, a perfect side dish with Enoki or shiitake mushrooms. 

Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese cabbage and perfect with fish or meat stir-fried with added garlic or red pepper flakes. 

Purple Yams or Ubeis my favorite and nothing new to Asian foodies. The vibrant root vegetable has a unique flavor and healthy benefits. If you are fortunate to come upon a fresh Purple yam at the produce section of a local market, prepare it the same way you would with a sweet potato. Peel the outside skin and slice thinly. If you have an air-fryer, cooking purple yam is a fun option. I like to sprinkle cinnamon or a pinch of sugar on each slice to enhance its sweet flavor. Ube cake is a staple for many Asian communities using real Ube flour. It is light and fluffy layered with Ube buttercream!  

Bitter Melon –also known as a bitter gourd – has a cultural following for its healthy benefits but many shy away due to its strong bitter taste. Find a recipe and turn this into a delicious side dish served with a bowl of steamed rice. 

Have fun adding these traditional Asian vegetables to your list for easy stir fries or side dishes for a new cultural experience.