Description
Celebrate the Lunar New Year in style with this stunning Mighty Dragon Platter, a vibrant and festive dish featuring cooked shrimp, Chinese BBQ pork, chicken potstickers, fresh vegetables, and sushi rice arranged artfully to resemble a majestic dragon. Perfect for gatherings, this platter offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, complemented by sweet chili, hoisin, and soy sauces, and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins
- 1 lb Cooked Shrimp (Substitute with marinated tofu for a vegetarian option)
- 1 lb Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu) (Can be substituted with grilled vegetables or tempeh)
- 8 pieces Chicken Potstickers (Use vegetable potstickers for a vegetarian alternative)
Vegetables & Fruits
- 1 large English Cucumber (Any thin-skinned cucumber can be used)
- 2 medium Bell Peppers (Red and Yellow) (Substitute with any color of bell pepper or shredded carrots)
- 1 cup Sugar Snap Peas (Blanched green beans can be used as a substitute)
- 1 cup Shredded Purple Cabbage (Green cabbage can work as a substitute)
- 1 large Carrot (Use zucchini or other veggies for variation)
- 1 bunch Fresh Cilantro (Parsley can substitute but has a different flavor)
- 3 stalks Green Onions (Chives can serve as a substitute)
- 1 piece Mandarin Orange (Represents a ‘pearl’ at the dragon’s mouth)
Grains & Rice
- 2 cups Cooked Sushi Rice (Quinoa can be an alternative)
- 4 pieces Seaweed-Wrapped Rice Balls (Onigiri) (Can be omitted or replaced with regular rice balls)
Sauces & Seasonings
- 1 cup Sweet Chili Sauce (Hoisin or plum sauce can be alternatives)
- 1/2 cup Hoisin Sauce (Can be replaced with teriyaki sauce)
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (Use gluten-free soy sauce for a gluten-free version)
- 2 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seeds (Can be omitted for nut allergies)
- Red Chili (optional) (Omit if a milder flavor is preferred)
Instructions
- Preparation: Begin by gathering and organizing all the ingredients in separate bowls or plates. This will help streamline the assembly process and ensure everything is ready.
- Form Dragon Body: Slice the English cucumber thinly and arrange the slices on a large serving board, shaping them into a dragon’s body to create an eye-catching base for the platter.
- Add Proteins and Rice: Layer the cooked shrimp, Chinese BBQ pork, and chicken potstickers neatly along the cucumber body. Follow this by placing the seaweed-wrapped rice balls strategically along the formation.
- Create Fins and Tail: Use colorful strips of red and yellow bell peppers along with sugar snap peas to form the dragon’s fins. Shredded purple cabbage is arranged at the tail end to add volume and color, mimicking the dragon’s tail.
- Shape Dragon’s Head: Position one rice ball at the head end of the dragon. Use toasted sesame seeds to create the eyes, and add slices of red chili for decorative accents that bring personality and spice.
- Add the Pearl: Place the mandarin orange near the dragon’s mouth, symbolizing the ‘pearl’ and completing the mythical imagery of the platter.
- Finish with Garnishes: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the entire platter. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and sliced green onions for a refreshing herbal brightness and visual appeal.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute shrimp with marinated tofu, Chinese BBQ pork with grilled vegetables or tempeh, and chicken potstickers with vegetable potstickers.
- Gluten-free soy sauce can be used to make the dish gluten-free.
- Adjust the amount of red chili or omit it to control the heat level.
- Sweet chili sauce can be replaced with hoisin or plum sauce for different flavor profiles.
- Rice balls (onigiri) can be replaced with plain rice shaped into balls or omitted entirely if preferred.
- To accommodate nut allergies, omit toasted sesame seeds.
