The Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China and many other Asian communities. It is an annual 15-day festival that begins with the new moon between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 in Western calendars. The festival lasts until the following full moon. I LOVE how the celebration is focused on the moon cycle, just like seaweed harvesting is!
The Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing the bad and the old and welcoming the new and the good. People worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year with various activities, such as lion and dragon dances, temple fairs, flower market shopping, decorating with red for good fortune and joy, and eating with family and friends!
This year, February 10th starts the year of the Wood Dragon. The Dragon is the only magical sign of 12 in the Chinese zodiac. In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success. 2024 is forecasted to bring about opportunities, changes, and challenges. This year might offer a favorable chance if you’re seeking a shift in your current life.
For Ocean Harvest Sea Vegetable Company, we seek opportunities and changes and a shift in how we do business with seaweed. We will begin our changes in 2024 by selling a flaked nori in one-ounce bags. Nori is the first seaweed we harvest each March and April. Nori is a traditional food among the indigenous peoples of this region. It is full of iron, B12, and other trace minerals when we harvest it early in the season. It is easy to use in many dishes as an additional umami flavor or to bring about a slight ocean/fish taste in your foods.
This month, we are offering “FREE” flaked nori with any purchase over $50. We are very excited to bring you a delicious new recipe for 2024-
Vegan and Gluten-Free MAGIC DRAGON CAKES! These are exceptionally delicious and easy to prepare! Taking the place of “crab” in the recipe are hearts of palm, garbanzo beans, and, of course, NORI! Make them part of your Chinese New Year celebration with your family and friends. This important family reunion occasion of the new year in China centers around food and drink, which are crucial parts of the celebration.
Enjoy the new Lunar Year, and let me know if you make the Magic Dragon Cakes! We love them here with tartar sauce and coleslaw.
No need to enter any code at checkout. If you spend $50 on seaweeds, I will slip an ounce of flaked nori into your package. Thank you for being such wonderful customers over the FORTY-THREE years that Ocean Harvest has been in business!
WOW!
May your New Year be filled with L O V E!
Terry and the Ocean Harvest Crew
Vegan Magic Dragon Cakes
(gluten-free)
These Vegan Magic Dragon Cakes are crispy on the outside and moist and flaky on the inside. They can be enjoyed as appetizers, side dishes, or main dishes.
Prep Time 15 mins
Set in freezer Time 20 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Serves: 4 people (yields 10-12 cakes)
Ingredients:
- 15 oz canned garbanzo beans, rinsed *Save liquid
- 2- 14 oz cans hearts of palm, rinsed, drained, and cut in half lengthwise
- 4 tablespoons reserved garbanzo bean liquid
- ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce (or tamari)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, more to taste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1 very small, very hot pepper chopped (omit if you don’t like heat!)
- 2 teaspoons OCEAN HARVEST FLAKED NORI
- ½ teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs (I used Schar brand), but you can also make your own. Plus, more for breaded coating
- ¼ cup preferred oil for pan frying (divided): I used organic olive oil
1. Add the garbanzo beans and hearts of palm to a food processor. Make sure you break apart your hearts of palm lengthwise. Pulse just a few times to break everything up. Don’t pulse too many times, or it will turn to mush. It should have a “crab-like” consistency. You can also do this manually: shred everything and smash your garbanzo beans with a fork. Set aside.
2. Whisk 4 Tablespoons of reserved bean liquid well in a large mixing bowl until it’s foamy. Then add the vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and all the dry seasonings. Mix well.
3. Add the bread crumbs, red onion, hot pepper (if using), and NORI. Gently fold to combine. Taste for seasoning; add more if needed. Freeze the mixture for 20 minutes. This helps the mixture stay together better.
4. Place enough breadcrumbs onto a shallow plate that will coat the patties evenly. Take the mixture out of the freezer and place about ¼ cup into your hands to form a ball. Then, gently flatten it to form a patty shape. Coat patty in the bread crumbs on each side. Place aside and continue until the mixture is gone.
5. Heat a large skillet over medium heat (about 2-3 minutes). Add about 2 tablespoons of oil and wait until it gets hot and shimmery before adding the patties. If you place the patty in the pan and hear it sizzle, it’s ready.
6. Fill your pan with patties, but make sure not to overcrowd the pan, or they won’t cook properly. Pan-fry them for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Try only to flip each patty once. When done, transfer the patties to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Wipe out the pan before the uncooked patties are added. Add fresh oil and continue until all patties are complete.
7. Serve hot with vegan tartar sauce and a lemon wedge, and top with green onions if preferred. Enjoy!
NOTES: If the mixture is too wet for your taste AFTER it comes out of the freezer, you can add ¼ cup breadcrumbs. Combine well.
I wish I had added more bread crumbs to make them firmer, but they were still delicious and spicy enough to bring out the dragon in us!
