NP Rank:
25 New Year’s Regional and Ethnic Foods From Around the World
Wondering what everyone else is eating to celebrate New Year’s around the world?
Here’s a list of 25 lucky regional and ethnic foods and their recipes that will help you start the new year right.
According to legend, all of the New Year’s foods below are reputed to attract prosperity for the new year.
Organized By “Lucky” Ingredient
Black Eyed Peas (Cow Peas)
- U.S. South: Black-Eyed Peas with Andouille Sausage and Rice (Hoppin John) from The Cook’s Tour
- U.S. South: New Year’s Day Good Fortune Soup from Homesick Texan
- U.S. South: Pork and Black Eyed Pea Jambalaya from About.Com: Southern Food
Cabbage
- Croatia: Sarma (Stuffed Cabbage) from All Recipes
- Germany: New Year’s Day Sauerkraut from Sauerkraut Recipes
- Korea: Oi-sobagi Kimchi Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi from Chow.Com
- Korea: Sweet Potato and Kim Chi Pancakes from Epicurious
Grapes
- Spain and Cuba: 12 grapes are rapidly consumed just after midnight.
Greens (Collard Greens, Spinach, etc.)
- U.S. South: Collard Greens from What’s Cooking America
- U.S. South: Creamed Turnip Greens from Andrea’s Recipes
Lentils
- Hungary: Hungarian Lentil Soup (Lencse Leves) from Yum Recipes
- Italy: Risotto with Lentils and Pancetta from About.Com: Italian Food
Pork
- U.S. South: Crispy Sesame Seed Party Bites With Louisiana Honey Mustard
- Germany and Poland: Stuffed Pork Chops with Kielbasa and Sauerkraut from Simply Recipes
- U.S. South: Pork and Black Eyed Pea Jambalaya from About.Com: Southern Food
Seafood
- Denmark: Torsk (Broiled and Buttered Cod Fillets from Cooks’ Recipes
- Germany: German New Year’s Herring from Yum Foods
- Italy: Salt Cod With Polenta (Baccala alla Vicentina) from the Food Network
- Poland: Polish Rollmops from About.Com: Eastern European Food
Misc.
- Greece: Vassilopitta (St. Basil’s Cake) from In Mama’s Kitchen
- Holland: Olie Bollen (Dutch Doughnuts) from Fabulous Foods
- Native American (Cree Indian): Boullets (New Year’s Meatball Soup) from The Perfect Pantry
- U.S. South: Huguenot Torte from Discover South Carolina
- U.S. South: Real Cornbread from Aol.Com: Food
Enjoy!
Crowd Power
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allaboutgeorge
Oakland, California, United States -
jybaxter
South Georgia, Georgia, United States -
vincente
Berlin, Berlin, Germany -
Ned Raggett
Costa Mesa, California, United States -
churl
East Lansing, Michigan, United States -
WatariGoro
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States -
credd
Vallejo, California, United States -
marcus_and_sue
Radcliffe, -
sjwhiddon
Columbia, Maryland, United States -
pleasurepalate
Duarte, California, United States -
Chennette
Trinidad and Tobago -
leesean
United States -
cybertoad
Houston, Texas, United States -
technekai
new york, New York, United States -
Bougi
Lévis North, Quebec, Canada -
ext212
New York, New York, United States -
Lricecsp
Columbus, Ohio, United States -
nycblondieandbrownie
Brooklyn, New York, United States -
Izanami_bs
Washington, District Of Columbia, United States -
carlettathegreat
Arlington, Virginia, United States -
Ryan Hadley
Canada -
perrygrl
Tallahassee, Florida, United States -
bellaphon
London, United Kingdom -
dunkel1953
United Kingdom -
hathaway_m
San Jose, California, United States -
osskunnn
Carrboro, North Carolina, United States -
TSQ75
Durham, North Carolina, United States -
christinel
Cerritos, California, United States -
Marni Molina
San Marcos, California, United States -
lindseychase06
Woodford, Virginia, United States -
ayustety
Japan -
LolaBix
Harrison, New Jersey, United States -
ralukkia
Belgium -
dr_avocado
Brooklyn, New York, United States -
Huggingthecoast.Com
Charleston, South Carolina, United States -
dogatarbyz
Fort Worth, Texas, United States -
lazyjones
Australia -
kalana617
Astoria, New York, United States -
Vince Chan
Toronto, Ontario, Canada -
kamutflakegirl
Canada -
sweetbeetandgreenbean.net
Los Angeles, California, United States -
pvtrillo
Spain -
ben.reece
Switzerland (Confoederatio Helvetica) -
paul_osman
Canada -
bettynz
New Zealand -
desert-dweller
United States -
solteronita
United States -
shandabee
United States -
letouj
United States -
girlwhocooks
United States -
crook_tooth
United States -
gothjen
Canada -
Suzana of Home Gourmets
Portugal -
DorothySH
Aland Islands -
rayb777
United States -
picture_kept
United States -
unsalhulya
United States -
Mrs. Bum
United States -
Kerime
Turkey -
romano
Italy -
my_beautiful_world
Turkey -
Cookthinker
United States -
njaal1301
Norway -
canolzeren
Netherlands -
ericae
United States -
TSRum
United States -
733.
United States -
deraira
Japan -
Emily Barney
United States -
fooddrink1521
Austria -
Joe Zachariah
India -
keropokman
Singapore -
Fabikika
Brazil -
Jamie Rocks
Taiwan -
Lia Pinto
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil -
xavor85
Italy -
databot
United States -
the wreath witch
United States -
LivngLegend
United States -
arroyita
United States -
jrocket
United States -
chrisamichaels
United States -
kris516
United States -
terrismith97
United States -
franimal
United States -
ShimonSandler
Clifton, New Jersey, United States -
dannyubc
United States -
SilverWind
Canada -
mcfall_john
United States -
fitcoach2007
United States -
maniacrockwell
United States -
nathalie407
United States -
peeeeeeter
United States -
lemonyellowsky13
United States -
signev
Denmark -
Audiotribe
Egå, Denmark -
laksevaagen
Denmark -
prunus
Japan














Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (20)
- reply
pvtrilloat 15:22 on December 30th, 2008
En España es costumbre tomar doce uvas al sonar las doce campanadas del reloj principal de las ciudades. Saludos
- reply
pvtrilloat 15:27 on December 30th, 2008
These grapes have saved the entrance to celebrate the new year 2009, which will take twelve units to hear the clock strikes twelve.
pvtrillo has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
Terri Potratzat 16:07 on December 30th, 2008
Great ideas for a NYE potluck!
- reply
rpshenat 16:14 on December 30th, 2008
Awesome post! Thanks for all the recipes. I can't wait to try some of these.
at 17:09 on December 31st, 2008
I'd want to be in Spain or Cuba..
- reply
ericaeat 17:26 on December 31st, 2008
This is a take out order of Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut und Kartoffelsalat (German Style Veal Sausage with Sauerkraut and Potato Salad) from the German restaurant Teske’s Germania in San Jose, CA. It was my first taste of German food. Yummy!
ericae has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
Joe Zachariahat 23:56 on December 31st, 2008
Joe Zachariah has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
njaal1301at 02:08 on January 1st, 2009
salted and dryed meat of lamb.boiled for 3 houers
mashed swedes,sauerkraut and potatoes
njaal1301 has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
girlwhocooksat 08:43 on January 1st, 2009
Improvisational New Year soup- black eyed peas + swiss chard in a savory broth
girlwhocooks has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
dannyubcat 09:56 on January 1st, 2009
Try this! Crab Cake stuffed Pork chops. Thick lean pork chops...split and cut in a "pocket". Stuff with an uncooked crab Cake (reciepe easily avail on internet or also readily available at the grocery store) tie together with baker's string add sprinkle with Chicago Steak and Chop Cracked Pepper and Garlic blend by Urban Accents and bake at 350 until done...(again check this on internet) simple .
dannyubc has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
Fabikikaat 11:31 on January 1st, 2009
Brazil - Make a wish (or 12 ones). Eat 12 grapes at midnight and you will see your wishes become true in the new year!
Fabikika has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
LivngLegendat 14:29 on January 1st, 2009
These collards were just beyond the blanching stage and I could wait no longer. Of course, I had the sense to take a quick shot while they were hot. My brother doubted I could capture the steam coming off of them. As you can clearly see...he was wrong!
They tasted great but the family ruled that they had to be cooked longer. After a few more minutes of cooking and seasoning we feasted. The wait was more than worthwhile (as it usually is).
LivngLegend has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
ebarney (not verified)at 17:00 on January 1st, 2009
I'm glad you liked my cucumber kimchi photo well enough to use it, but I'm not sure why you've listed cucumber kimchi under the cabbage section. ^-^ Cucumber kimchi is more of a summer recipe, so I wouldn't expect it to be a New Year's specialty- though I'm not Korean, so I wouldn't know. Thouh - the funny thing is I'm making whole cabbage kimchi myself right now (and I need to go check the salting!). Here's a recipe I've used:
Wash cabbages and cut in half (or quarters, for large heads). Over a large bowl, sprinkle 1 cup salt between leaves of cabbage sections - like this. Combine last bit of salt and 1 cup water and sprinkle over all the cabbages. Leave them cut side up for 3 or so hours, checking in the last hour to make sure they aren't too wilted (should still be crunchy, but the water should come out - like this. Meanwhile, boil 1 cup water and rice flour to make a paste, let cool, then stir in remaining filling ingredients. When cabbage is ready, rinse to get rid of salt then smear the filling in between the leaves and pack in a large sanitized glass jar, with room at the top. Cover with plastic and leave out 1-2 days or until it begins to bubble and ferment. Keep in the fridge for 2-3 months. Great as a side dish or in many Korean recipes. :)
- reply
keropokmanat 17:40 on January 1st, 2009
Pickle Kimchi Cucumbers
keropokman has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
romanoat 07:19 on January 2nd, 2009
Sarm:- Serbian recipe
leaves of cabbage under vinegar full of rice and ground meat
romano has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:50 on January 2nd, 2009
Collard greens, texas caviar, coleslaw, mustard roasted potatoes and pulled pork sandwiches in Austin, Texas. Get recipes at http://www.kristinmacbride.com/
- reply
leyla (not verified)at 13:04 on January 4th, 2009
rpshen,
thanks for your invitation..what nice and interesting site..i enjoyed so much :)
- reply
unsalhulyaat 15:54 on January 4th, 2009
Turkish style stuffed cabbage leaves from www.turkishcookingclass.blogspot.com
unsalhulya has contributed a photo to this story.
at 10:49 on January 5th, 2009
Stuffed Pork Chop with Gouda cheese
mcfall_john has contributed a photo to this story.
at 22:39 on January 17th, 2009
Smothered Kurabuta Pork Belly with Rice, Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens
Herbsaint Restaurant, New Orleans.
bettynz has contributed a photo to this story.