
Lunar New Year is a time of joyous celebration marked by vibrant traditions, family gatherings, and symbolic foods.
A plethora of dishes are commonly prepared to invoke blessings for the coming year – and beans find a special place in many.
Beans often play a significant role in the Lunar New Year festivities, symbolising prosperity, fertility, and good fortune.
In some regions, black beans are included in meals as they are believed to bring strength and vitality. Some more unique ingredients exhibit the rich culinary traditions, such as miso and yuba. Miso is made from fermented soybean, and yuba is derived from the skin that forms on the surface of heated soy milk during the tofu-making process.
Chef Yi-Wen has shared some delicious, wholesome recipes with Beans is How that include yuba and more traditional ingredients, while sharing insights on the place of food in the celebrations.
Keep reading to dive into Chef Yi-Wen Lunar new year traditions and her delicious bean recipes!




Chef Yi-Wen is a social entrepreneur and chef educator committed to plant-forward whole foods education and integrates Eastern food therapy wisdom with Western culinary creativity approaches. She is the Co-Founder of the Plant Forward LLab, and also a member of the Chefs’ Manifesto. Yi-Wen & The Plant Forward LLAB’s mission is to awaken public understanding of plant-centric abundance combining knowledge on nutritional balance, healthy cooking techniques and use of biodiverse ingredients.
Learn more about Yi-Wen’s delicious recipes and special Lunar New Year traditions below.
“The pre-Lunar New Year dinner is one of the most important meals of the year to celebrate when families re-unite and wish for health & prosperity in the coming year.
My inspiration always comes from nature, so prior to designing the dishes, I would understand the seasonal harvests from local farmers but also keep in mind the mix & match of balancing nutrition, colors, textures, tastes, and biodiverse ‘wholefood’ ingredients that boost our micronutrients plus enhance natural flavors.
Food plays a vital role in our daily lives, fueling our body, mind and spirit. Food is also an expression of love that brings joy and nourishment from inside to out as it is one of the key foundations to building good health so we need to respect and value those behind our food system, esp. our local ecological farmers, and all the other related resources that are involved in producing and transporting our precious three meals a day from land or sea to our table.”

Illustration by @yehyehyeh_agency
This dinner should be fun and interactive. Starting with the Yi Prosperity Tossed Salad as an appetizer will set the New Year spirit symbolizing abundance, prosperity, vigor and good luck. It can also represent one aiming for new heights.
The next one, Yi Crispy Yuba (made from dried soybean skin!) Nori Rolls, is a gluten-free and high protein roll, designed to represent bars of gold for the coming year.
These dish ideas can nudge us towards taking collective actions in making a Planetary Health Diet shift without sacrificing on taste and flavors, during new beginnings.
The New Year is also a time of reflections and setting new intentions, so I hope these dishes can inspire more people to discover plant-forward food choices that brings meaning to this meal, hoping to set the stage for all to start making more mindful food choices in year of the Snake.”
Explore the Yuba Making Process:
Yuba sheets, also known as tofu skin, are made from the delicate skin that forms on the surface of heated soy milk during the tofu-making process. To create yuba, soybeans are first soaked, blended, and strained to produce fresh soy milk. This soy milk is then gently heated in shallow, wide pans, where a thin layer of protein and fat naturally coagulates on the surface. Once this film thickens, it is carefully lifted off using chopsticks or a similar tool, requiring precision to avoid tearing the delicate sheet. The fresh yuba can be eaten immediately or dried for preservation, with the dried sheets often folded or rolled for easy storage and later use. Whether fresh or dried, yuba offers a slightly chewy texture and a nutty, savory flavor, making it a versatile ingredient in many Asian cuisines for soups, stir-fries, or as a plant-based protein alternative





