Meatless Day Challenge
Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days. There is almost a different event for each day of celebration. Vegetarian meals are eaten on some days and certain Gods need to be prayed to on others. The seventh day is the birthday of all human beings. In the past, farmers in the villages will gather and make a almost vegetarian dish that consists of a green soup and seven different types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion. So I thought for this week’s challenge, it will be a good idea to introduce to this really amazing peasant dish that was prepared and cooked by a friend’s mum.
These days many Chinese dialect groups will celebrate by having yeesheng. But the Hakka still have the tradition of having luicha for this occasion instead. The soup is made up of mainly basil, coriander, mint, peanuts, sesame seeds, dried anchovies (ikan bilis) and tea leaves. They are cooked, blended together and then placed in the middle of the table.
** For the full vegetarian version, just remove the ikan bilis
The green broth
Seven different types of vegetables will be prepared in the same manner and served as individual dishes along with the soup. The only ones that I could pick up from the table is snow peas, bok choy and kailan. The rest had Chinese names and could not find a translation for. But according to friend’s mum, it doesn’t matter but I think she did mention to refrain from using leeks. The vegetables are just simply stir-fried with garlic, salt and white pepper. In addition, there were preserved radish, dried prawns (remove for vegetarians) and whole peanuts as side dishes as well.
The green feast
To eat it, just scoop a little rice into a big bowl, add all the vegetables and side dishes. Lastly, top it up with the green soup, mix it through and eat. This is one of the best and memorable dishes that I have eaten so far. It is so simple but when everything came together, it just worked. The tedious part of this meal is to diced up all the vegetables into similar sizes. And I think it is quite tricky to get the balance right with all the green herbs and tea.
Seven vegetables and side dishes in the bowl
This is tradition that needs to be kept and passed on. After being in Australia for more than a decade, I am on the verge of losing many of these old traditions. And without any blood relations here, it is even harder to keep track and remember these old ways. We still celebrate Chinese New Year with friends but it still somehow lack the festive mood that I have experienced if I am back in Asia.
hakka luicha
We had a great evening sitting on the big round table in the kitchen. Eating and having a few glasses of vino. Even Ms C’s parents joined us. That is so cool! So thanks Ms. C and your family for making such a memorable meal. It tastes really good and nothing that I have tried before. Till the next time! 
Do you believe in keeping traditions?
@jeroxie I love eating luicha! It’s yummy. Thinking to make it for chap goh may!
When’s the attempt?? I offer to be your sous, just to chop 2 types of veg
Soon soon. will let you know. We gather helping hands for all the chopping duties.
Mmmm….delicious…my family favourite. This is a very healthy dish and utterly delicious. We usually eat it once a week, during weekends. This is the only time my daughter eats a lot of vegetables. Wel, I do think that certain good family traditions should be kept.
MaryMoh´s last blog ..Hot Ginger Sauce Chicken
Yes…I love traditions. I guess it’s much easier here in Los Angeles though since there is such an enormous Chinese influence.
Oh wow, this is an absolutely GORGEOUS dish, and what a fantastic tradition. It looks like you are indeed doing a good job of recapturing the festive spirit!
Trix´s last blog ..Senegalese Yassa, My Way
Good of you to try to keep up to traditions more so when you’re away from home. ‘Luicha’ is very healthy and nutritious but a lot of chopping and munching!
Cheah´s last blog ..Minced pork with mixed vegetables aka 4 Heavenly Kings
Such a delicious dish and I love that you are keeping the traditions! Thanks for sharing them with us! We are definitely trying to keep our traditions too and they especially became more important, to pass on to our daughter.
This is my kind of dish, just by looking at it. I love the different colors of greens in the plate.
citronetvanille´s last blog ..To share with a girlfriend – Traditional Italian seafood stew from Fano
Healthy indeed, this is new to me.
It looks very green and healthy. Maybe it needs some butter?
Mark @ Cafe Campana´s last blog ..8 Days to Go! – Preview Post – Tomato, Goats Curd & Basil Penne
I took it once but don’t really like it! Neither is my hubby, he is a Hakka! hehe… Look simple but a lot of work to be done!
kristy´s last blog ..Golden Honey Pheonix
I actually never had this before but it is a great vegetarian dish.
I learnt to make this when I was living in Kuching! It has to be one of the most delicious and healthy dish around.
3hungrytummies´s last blog ..Midweek pasta – Spaghettoni with Italian sausage and tomatoes
This is the first time I’ve heard of this recipe and I have to say it does sound very intriguing! I love the addition of peanuts in the dish!
Trissa´s last blog ..Family Gems
@jeroxie oh my god! luicha! I havent had it for a long long time! I only learned about this dish from my bro-in-law who is hakka from Johor.
@atablefortwo It was my first and I am in love….. must try and replicate this. Too yum!
Both my folks left their native countries when they were very young (Dad at 19, Mum at 21) and met, married and had me and bro in England, before we moved over here. I very much think us not having more family here and almost no traditions makes it a little lonely.
The only thing that I can think of that we do as a tradition is have roast on Christmas…no matter how hot! But we also have cold seafood too, yum.
Gem´s last blog ..drive-by Mexican
RT @jeroxie: Meatless Day Challenge #10 – Hakka Luicha http://jeroxie.com/addiction/meatless-da...
I *love* this kind of meal – so many interesting bits and pieces, and you can either keep it all separate or mix it up for flavour kapows and whizz-bangs! And with my love for pickles, I’d probably go overboard with the preserved radish
Hannah´s last blog ..Alcove Spicy Peanut Milk Chocolate
So many shades of green, all delicious.
Conor @ HoldtheBeef´s last blog ..Are we Amusé?
This looks so simple and cleansing. Yum!!
Ms Baklover´s last blog ..Babylon Restaurant 2
[...] of all human beings. Ms C invited a group of us over to her place where her mum made the infamous Hakka Luicha. I will be trying to replicate this dish in my [...]