Children’s Recipes for the Year of the Dragon

Pengat pisang, also known as Kolak pisang in Indonesia, is a popular traditional Malaysian dessert. (Ika Rahma H/Shutterstock)

On Feb. 10, we will enter the year of the Wood Dragon, which heralds this as the dawn of a thrilling epoch, perhaps the most stirring in two decades.

We are embarking on a new 20-year feng shui cycle that promises to stretch its influence until 2044, completing a grand 180-year circle. This period is under the fiery dominion of the number nine, a symbol of culmination and success in Chinese tradition.

In Chinese culture, the number nine is not merely a numeral; it’s an emblem of good fortune and the assurance of successful completion.

It’s intimately linked with the element of fire, a beacon of life, power, and comfort. Fire conjures images of brilliance, warmth, and the summer sun.

So to celebrate this auspicious time, here are some children’s Malaysian Chinese recipes that you can make together from my children’s cookbook, “The Wonderful Wizard of Borneo’s Magic Recipe Spells.”

Spell 9. Earth Dragon’s Favourite dessert (Pengat Pisang)

What you will need

• 3 cups thin coconut milk
• 5 centimetres (2 inches) piece of ginger (peeled and chopped)
• 1 cup of sugar (preferably brown)
• 6 ripe (but not overly ripe) bananas, peeled and sliced lengthways
• 1 cup thick coconut milk/coconut cream
• 1 tablespoon of sago
• 1 saucepan
• 1 wooden spoon
• 1 adult to help you

Method

Soak the sago in water for 10 minutes.

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Put the thin coconut milk in a saucepan with the ginger and bring to the boil

When boiling add the sugar and the banana. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon so that the coconut milk does not curdle. But be careful and try not to break the banana. Earth dragons will not eat broken bananas. However, humans can.

When the bananas are cooked (about three minutes), add the thick coconut milk/coconut cream and sago.

When the sago becomes see-through, turn off the heat.

Serve either hot or cold for breakfast or dessert.

Spell 12. Fiery Dragon’s Throat Cooler (Sweet Lassi)

Dragon’s like sweet things, so these recipes have been specially created for fire-breathing dragons who sometimes need to cool down.

What you will need

• 1 cup of yoghurt
• 3 cups iced water
• 1 teaspoon sugar (you can use honey or any other sweetener)
• 1 mixing bowl or wide jug
• 1 beater
• 1 adult to help

Method

Place the yoghurt in a bowl or jug and beat until smooth.

Gradually stir in iced water.

Stir in sugar and serve in glasses.

Mango lassi blends sweet mangos with plain yogurt, sugar, milk and ice.
(Aamulya/iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Spell 13. Little Dragon Cooler (Sweet Mango Lassi)

What you will need

• 1–2 mangoes, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup of yoghurt
• 3 cups iced water
• 1 teaspoon sugar (you can use honey or any other sweetener)
• blender
• 1 adult to help

Method

Put mango and yoghurt into a blender and blend well until smooth.

Stir in the iced water.

Add sugar, stir, and serve in glasses.