Save to Pinterest A festive and colorful appetizer platter inspired by the dragon dance, featuring an assortment of Asian-inspired bites arranged to resemble a dragon—perfect for Lunar New Year celebrations.
This platter has become a Lunar New Year favorite in my family, bringing both visual delight and delicious flavors to our celebrations.
Ingredients
- Proteins: 8 cooked shrimp peeled and deveined, 8 slices Chinese BBQ pork (char siu) thinly sliced, 8 chicken potstickers (store-bought or homemade) cooked
- Vegetables: 1 cucumber thinly sliced, 2 carrots julienned, 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced, 1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced, 2 cups edamame cooked and shelled, 8 lettuce leaves (e.g. butter or romaine)
- Fruits & Garnishes: 1 small mango thinly sliced, 1 small dragon fruit sliced and cut into scales, 3 sprigs fresh cilantro, 1 small bunch chives or green onions (for whiskers), 1 sheet nori (seaweed) cut into small circles (for eyes/nose), 2 black olives or grapes (for nostrils)
- Dipping Sauces: ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, ¼ cup hoisin sauce
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Prepare all ingredients as directed: cook potstickers and edamame, slice vegetables and fruits, and cut nori for facial features.
- Step 2:
- On a large serving platter or board, arrange the lettuce leaves in a curving line to form the dragons body.
- Step 3:
- Layer BBQ pork, shrimp, and potstickers along the lettuce to create the dragons scales.
- Step 4:
- Use sliced cucumber, bell peppers, carrots, mango, and dragon fruit to add colorful accents and define the dragons body and tail.
- Step 5:
- Sculpt the dragons head at one end using edamame, mango, and dragon fruit. Use nori circles for eyes and black olives or grapes for nostrils. Chives or green onions can form the dragons whiskers.
- Step 6:
- Garnish the platter with fresh cilantro sprigs for extra color.
- Step 7:
- Arrange dipping sauces in small bowls around the platter.
- Step 8:
- Serve immediately guests can pick and dip their favorite bites.
Save to Pinterest This dish always brings smiles as family members gather around to admire and enjoy the artistic creation and flavors.
Required Tools
Large serving platter or board, sharp knife, small bowls for sauces, tongs or chopsticks
Allergen Information
Contains soy (soy sauce edamame), shellfish (shrimp), gluten (potstickers soy sauce hoisin), and sesame (if used). Check all labels for hidden allergens and adapt as needed.
Nutritional Information
Calories 210, Total Fat 6 g, Carbohydrates 24 g, Protein 13 g per serving
Save to Pinterest This Dragon Platter is a showstopper perfect for celebrating Lunar New Year with friends and family.