Vegetables, Fruits, and Greens
Since the Horse is a herbivorous creature, the focus should be on light, healthy, and fresh dishes. It is recommended to include fruits, vegetables, and greens in the menu. To treat the Horse, you can prepare:- dishes with carrots and apples;
- salads made with greens and citrus;
- light snacks with plenty of vegetables;
- canapés and tartlets.
On the internet, we found a wonderful recipe for green salad with orange.
Photo from edimdoma.ru
Ingredients for three servings:
- feta or bryndza cheese — 100 grams;
- oranges — 2 pieces;
- red onion — 1-2 pieces;
- salad leaves — 200 grams.
For the dressing, you will need:
- Dijon mustard — 1.5 tablespoons;
- honey — 2 tablespoons;
- olive oil — 1.5 tablespoons;
- balsamic vinegar — 1 tablespoon;
- white wine vinegar — 1 teaspoon;
- salt and black pepper — to taste.
Preparation
Cut the feta or bryndza cheese into cubes, and wash the salad leaves thoroughly and tear them into large pieces. Cut the orange flesh into wedges. In a deep bowl, combine the oranges, feta, and salad leaves.
Peel the red onion, make cuts but not all the way through, to divide it into 8-10 pieces. Place it in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Mix well, add salt and pepper, then place on a baking sheet. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees, then another 10 minutes without foil. Slice one onion and add it to the salad, leaving the other for decoration.
For the dressing, mix the mustard, honey, salt, pepper, vinegar, and olive oil in a small bowl. Dress the salad and serve.
Main Dish of Poultry
Horse meat and beef can scare away luck, so it's better to choose turkey, goose, or duck. These dishes look especially festive and symbolize celebration and abundance on the New Year's table. Poultry will help attract financial well-being and family happiness.Turkey with Apples and Prunes
Ingredients:
- turkey leg;
- apple — 100 grams;
- prunes — 100 grams;
- onion — 1 piece;
- garlic — 1-2 cloves.
Marinade:
- soy sauce — 1 tablespoon;
- honey — 1 tablespoon;
- vegetable oil — 1 tablespoon;
- Dijon mustard — 1 tablespoon;
- lemon juice — 1 tablespoon;
- salt and pepper — to taste.
Preparation
Wash the turkey leg and pat dry. Make deep cuts in the meat. Rub the turkey with the marinade on all sides, paying attention to the cuts, and let it marinate for an hour or longer for best results.
Meanwhile, cut the apples into wedges, leaving the skin on. Cut large prunes in half, and leave small ones whole. Slice the onion into feathers, and the garlic into slices.
Line a baking dish with foil, place the turkey in it, and drizzle with the marinade. Insert wedges of apple, prunes, and garlic into the cuts, and place the onion nearby.
Cover the leg with foil on all sides and place it in a preheated oven. Bake for 1.5 hours, removing the foil 15 minutes before the end for a golden crust. After cooling, slice the meat and serve with prunes, apples, and onion.
Dessert
The Horse is known for its love of sweets! However, complex cakes are not necessary. It's better to choose light desserts, such as oatmeal cookies, mousses, soufflés, or pastries with berries. You can complement the dessert with exotic fruits.Fruit Salad
Ingredients:
- fresh strawberries — 100 grams;
- pineapple in syrup — 100 grams;
- one banana, kiwi, and orange;
- strawberry yogurt — 150 grams;
- almonds — 30 grams.
Preparation
Peel the banana, orange, and kiwi, and cut them into rings like the pineapple. Wash the strawberries, dry them, and slice. Combine all the fruits in one bowl, mix, and distribute into glasses. Soak the almonds in boiling water for 10 minutes, then remove the skin, lightly toast in the oven, and chop. Pour yogurt over the fruits and sprinkle with almonds.
Fruit salads are best served in clear glasses, which can be decorated with a sugar rim. To do this, dip the rim of the glass in egg white, then in granulated sugar. Gently shake the glasses to remove excess sugar and let them dry.
Tips for Choosing Dishes for the Horse
When creating a festive menu in the Year of the Horse, it is important to follow certain rules to maintain the symbolism and atmosphere of the celebration.First, avoid dishes made with horse meat and beef, which is a key rule in Eastern culture. An excess of fiery energy associated with cooking over an open flame is also not recommended.
Second, avoid heavy and fatty foods. The Fire Horse is associated with lightness and movement, so hearty dishes are better left for other holidays.
Don’t forget to check out other topics about Christmas trees, Père Noël, and treats. How New Year is celebrated in different countries.
The symbol of the year will not tolerate low-quality ingredients, so it is better to cook less, but with fresh and natural products. On New Year's Eve, quality is more important than quantity.
Complex recipes and sharp flavors, such as excessive amounts of garlic or onion, should also be avoided. Simplicity and natural combinations will help attract the favor of the symbol of the year.
The Horse is a disciplined animal, so it is advisable to limit alcohol on New Year's Eve. It's better to prefer light wines and cocktails.
New Year's Table Setting
On this festive night, it is better to use warm shades such as red, gold, and orange, as well as natural wood colors. Don’t forget about textiles: a tablecloth made of natural fabrics and napkins will help create a cozy atmosphere.The Horse symbolizes freedom and liveliness, so it is best to celebrate the New Year in the company of close friends, in the countryside, or in places where you feel happy.
