Year Of The Horse Delights 2026 1.2  

                                                      2026/2/17 Tuesday

Year Of The Horse Delights 2026

Lunar New Year falls on February 17, 2026 this year. I Chef Kar prepared 6 types of delights for celebrating Year of The Horse, namely:

1.2.1 Grilled Mackerel Maple Syrup & Black Beans  

1.2.2 Traditional Coconut New Year Cake

1.2.3 Putian Horse Cake

2.2.1 Golden Malay Cake  

2.2.2 Coconut Split Pea Cake

2.2.3 Sweet Osmanthus Water Chestnut Cake

2 episodes will be relaesed. Episode 1 is now published:

1.2.1 Grill Mackerel Maple Syrup & Black Beans  

1.2.2 Traditional Coconut New Year Cake

1.2.3 Putian Horse Cake

1.2 Year Of The Horse Delights 2026

1.2.1 Grilled Mackerel Maple Syrup & Black Beans 

       《Abundance every year》

         楓糖豆豉烤馬鮫魚《年年有餘》

Grilled mackerel was an Imperial Cuisine in ancient China. Epicures praise it as "Fairy Food". It has been loved since the old times.

Dumplings with Mackerel as fillings are popular in Bohai Bay coastal area of ​​China.

People in Taiwan list mackerel as one of the ten most deicious fish.

Chaozhou people praised it as the best fish among others.

Ingredients

Mackerel, vegetabe oil

Marinade: minced onion, minced garlic, minced ginger, salt

Sauce: minced onion, minced garlic, minced ginger, Fermented Black Beans (Spiced black beans), soya sauce, corn starch + water, maple syrup

Method

1. Remove internal organs of Mackerel. Wash it with cold water. Marinade it for 2 hours. Grill it until cooked and slightly burnt.

2. Make the sauce. Pour some oil to a frying pan. Add onion, garlic, ginger and fermented black beans. Fry until fragrant. Add soy sauce and maple syrup for seasoning. Add corn starch fluid,  stir well. If necessary, add a little bit of water. Turn fire off. 

1.2.2 Traditional Coconut New Year Cake

      《Rise step by step》

         傳統椰汁年糕《步步高升 》

Traditional Coconut New Year Cake is a delicious sweet dessert which is essential for Lunar New Year. It is known for rich coconut aroma, chewy and soft texture. The vital ingredients are glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, slab sugar, coconut milk and vegetable oil. Method: Mix syrup with coconut milk.  Pour this mixture to batter which is made of glutinous rice flour and wheat starch. Steamed after sieving batter. Keep cold and make slices. Fry with a layer of egg fluid on the cake until golden on both sides. 

Ingredients

. Glutinous Rice Flour 400g
. Wheat Starch 80g

. Corn Starch 70g
. Slab Sugar 3bars
. Rock Sugar 100g
. Water  500ml
. Coconut milk 200ml
. Vegetable Oil 50ml+little(for oiling pans)

Garnish：Red Dates

Note: This quanty of ingredients can make one 10inch baking pan or two 7inch baking pans

Preparation

1. Sieve glutinous rice flour, wheat starch and corn starch twice, and put in a large container.
2. Cut slab sugar with a knife and break rock sugar to smaller pieces, and add both to a pot of water.  Boil under medium heat until becoming syrup.

3. Pour coconut milk and vegetable oil to a bowl, add syrup, mix well. Pour liquid to flour and starch , mix well to become cake batter.

** all liquid do not need to cool down, hot is OK.

4. Prepare a large pot/wok of water for steaming. Turn on high fire.

5. Oil a baking pan to avoiding sticking. Sieve the cake batter and pour it to the oiled baking pan. Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil to avoid condensation dropping directly to the cake surface. 

6. Steam under high fire for 1 hour until well done. That means, when a bamboo chopstick inserted into rice cake do not stick to the chopstick. Add a soaked red date in the centre for garnish.

1.2.3 Putian Horse Cake

     《Rise step by step》

         莆田馬糕 《步步高升》

Putian Horse Cake is also called mint cake. It is the traditional cake of 

Putian, Fujian province in China. It is made of glutinous rice and short-grain rice. Strong texture and chewy. Slightly sweet and soft. Traditonally, when preparing this cake, steamer is lined with mint leaves; therefore it is also called mint cake. It is offerings for ancestor worship during the Lantern Festival in Putian, Fujian. 

Ingredients

. Rice Flour 700g

. Glutinous rice flour 300g

. Brown sugar  150g
. Granulated Sugar 100g
. Water 480g

Preparation

1. Put flour and sugar in a big stainless steel bowl. Fill a bottle with water. While pouring water into the bowl, use a pair of chopsticks to stir and mix well slowly.

2. If there is a large clumps of dough, stop stiring. Cover with a lid to rest 10 minutes. Then stir slowly. Wet a cloth with water and squeeze out excess water. Cover the bowl with the cloth. Cover with a lid and wait for 2 hours. 

3. Place a wet cloth on a bamboo steamer.  Sieve the mixture into a mixing bowl. Pour the sieved mixture over the damp cloth on the bamboo steamer. 

4. Use a spoon to slightly flatten. Do not use force.

5. Use a knife to divide the cake to small rectangular chunks to allow ease of picking up.

6. Cover the bamboo steamer with a damp cloth.

7. Cover the steamer with a lid. Place the steamer in the steaming pot/wok under high heat and cook for two hours.

8 It is cooked when there is no powder sticking to a chopstick.  Remove the cake from the cloth and put it on a steamer lined with baking paper. Cover the steamer with a lid to avoid drying up.

Ingredients & Preparation

 1.2.1 Grilled Mackerel Maple Syrup & Black Beans 

1.2.2 Traditional Coconut New Year Cake

1.2.3 Putian Horse Cake

Next，

2.2  Year Of The Horse Delights 2026

2.2.1 Golden Malay Cake  

2.2.2 Coconut Split Pea Cake

2.2.3 Sweet Osmanthus Water Chestnut Cake

Soon, Seasonal Salad Around The World 2026

6.1.2 Central America:  Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador

Publisher： Chef Kar Delight

American Crab Louie SaladAmerican Crab Louie Salad also called King of Salad, originated from San Francisco, California, in the west coast of the USA. Main ingredients are Dungeness Crab meat, boiled eggs, asparagus, lettuce leaves, pickled cucumber and tomato, mixed with sweet and tangy Louis Dressing. Place some fresh crab meat on lettuce; pile up like a hill and sprinkle with Louis Dressing. It can pair with other ingredients to enjoy.Ingredients:Dungeness Crab meat, boiled eggs, asparagus, lettuce, tomato, Louis DressingLouis Dressing: mayonnaise, ketchup, picked cucumber, garlic, Tabasco, paprika, Lea & Perrins, lemmon juice, salt and pepper, sugar

Seasonal Salad Around the World 2026

5.1.1 North America:  Canada, USA, Mexico

In Search Of World's Hidden Tastes

5.1.1 Around North America, Explore Seasonal Salads

North American cuisine is a diverse mix of indigenous ingredients (corn, beans, squash) and global influences, particularly European (British, French, Spanish), African, and Asian, resulting in regional specialties like American BBQ, Tex-Mex, Canadian poutine, and Caribbean dishes, characterized by comfort foods (mac & cheese, burgers) and significant immigrant contributions that create a rich culinary tapestry.

Canadian cuisine is a diverse mix of Indigenous traditions, French and British influences, and multicultural additions, featuring staples like maple syrup, poutine, fresh seafood (salmon, lobster), game meats (bison, moose), and regional specialties such as Nanaimo bars, butter tarts, and tourtière, all shaped by Canada's vast geography and immigrant cultures. It's often described as a "cuisine of cuisines," celebrating local ingredients and global flavors.

American cuisine is a diverse "melting pot" of global influences, blending Native American, European (British, Italian, German), African (Soul Food), Latin American (Tex-Mex), and Asian traditions, creating unique regional styles like Southern BBQ, Cajun, and New York Deli, alongside iconic dishes such as burgers, mac & cheese, fried chicken, and apple pie. Its defining feature is adaptation and fusion, where immigrant dishes become distinctly American over time.

Mexican cuisine is a rich, ancient culinary tradition blending indigenous ingredients like corn, chili peppers, avocado, and chocolate with Spanish influences (pork, beef, cheese), known for staples like tacos, tamales, and mole, focusing on fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and dishes like enchiladas, guacamole, and pozole, celebrated globally for its diversity and balance.

▲ Seasonal Salad 60：

Canadian Lobster Salad   

Canadian Lobster is called by seafood lovers as "King of seafood"! Lobster is the pride of Nova Scotia in the East coast of Canada. Nova Scotia Lobsters, sustainably harvested from the cold pristine Atlantic Ocean, by independent fishermen along the coast.  Nova Scotia’s lobster fishery is carefully managed to bring the highest quality lobster to market. Nova Scotia lobster is prized for its hard shelled and full meat qualities. Canadian Nova Scotia Lobster Salad uses meat of live lobster, mixed with sour，tangy and herbed Mary Rose Remoulade, and sweet maple syrup; sprinked with red paprika and sun dried tomatoes, It is eye catching and delicious. 

Ingredients

Nova Scotia lobster, lettuce leaves, mushroom, cucumber, celery, dill and eggs  

Mary Rose Remoulade (Marie Rose sauce or seafood sauce): tomato, mayonnaise, lea and perrins, lemon juice, black pepper

Garnish: paprika, sun dried tomatoes

Canadian PEI Lobster Roll 

To make the Prince Edward Island Lobster Roll, first cut open across the center of hot dog bun; put some Lobster Salad in the middle of the bun . It is delicious and slightly tangy.

Ingredients: Nova Scotial lobster salad, hot dog bun 

Hot dog bun

Ingredients:

All purpose flour, yeast, milk, butter, eggs, sugar, salt, water

▲ Seasonal Salad 61：

American Crab Louie Salad

American Crab Louie Salad also called King of Salad, originated from San Francisco, California, in the west coast of the USA. Main ingredients are Dungeness  Crab meat, boiled eggs, asparagus, lettuce leaves, pickled cucumber and tomato, mixed with sweet and tangy Louis Dressing. Place some fresh crab meat on lettuce; pile up like a hill and sprinkle with Louis Dressing. It can pair with other ingredients to enjoy.

Ingredients:

Dungeness Crab meat, boiled eggs, asparagus, lettuce, tomato, Louis Dressing

Louis Dressing: mayonnaise, ketchup, picked cucumber, garlic, Tabasco, paprika, Lea & Perrins, lemmon juice, salt and pepper, sugar

 

Seattle Dungeness Crab Roll

To make the Seattle Dungeness Crab Roll, first cut open across the center of Brioche bun; put some Crab Louie salad in the middle of the bun. Fresh crab meat is paired with boiled eggs and fresh vegetable and mixed with Louis Dressing, yummy!

Brioche bun

Ingredient: all purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, yeast, milk, butter, eggs, sugar, salt, water

▲ Seasonal Salad 62：

Mexican Ensalada de Nopales

Nopal is a type of cactus originated in Mexico. It is used as ingredient for food, especially salad such as Ensalada de Nopales. Ensalada de Nopales can be served by itself, or paired with grill meat and toppings for tacos.

Ingredients:

Nopales, jalapeño, lettuce leaves, tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil, salt, sugar, queso fresco

Salad  Dressing: Oregano, cilantro, Dijon mustard, apple cider, olive oil, salt, sugar

Mexican Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad is originated from Mexico. It was invented by the owner of an Italian restaurant in Tijuana Chef Caesar Cardini in 1924. Therefore it was named after him as "Caesar Salad".

Ingredient: Romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese

Caesar Salad Dressing: anchovies, mayonnaise, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, olive oil, balck pepper, salt

 

Tacos de Nopales

Place some Ensalada de Nopales on the top of Tortilla, roll over to become Tacos de Nopales, Yummy!

Caesar Salad Tacos

Place some Caesar Salad on the top of Tortilla, roll over to become Caesar Salad Tacos, Yummy!

Mexican Corn Tortillas 

Use masa harina (instant masa flour) to mix with water to form a dough. Take out some doug and press it to become a disk. Place it on grill to form tortilla.

《2026 Year of The Horse Special》

Nest，

1.2 Year of The Horse Delights 2026

1.2.1 Grill Mackerel Maple Syrup & Black Beans  

1.2.2 Traditional Coconut New Year Cake

1.2.3 Putian Horse Cake

Coming Next，

2.2  Year of The Horse Delights 2026

2.2.1 Ancient Malay Cake  

2.2.2 Cconut Split Peas Cake

2.2.3 Sweet Osmanthus Water Chestnuts Cake

Soon, Seasonal Salad Around the World 2026

6.1.2 Central America:  Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador

Publisher： Chef Kar Delight