Vietnamese Prawn Skewers for Lunar New Year

These delicious prawn skewers are a perfect dish to serve at a Lunar New Year celebration. Made to be enjoyed with family and friends.

Chạo Tôm is iconic to Vietnamese cuisine because it beautifully showcases Vietnam’s love for fresh seafood, aromatic herbs, and unique cooking techniques, with the sugar cane adding a sweet flavour that perfectly complements the savoury prawn mix.

Chạo tôm has its roots in Vietnam’s southern regions, particularly in the Mekong Delta, where sugarcane is abundant and seafood plays a central role in local cuisine. Indeed enjoyed during Tết (Lunar New Year) as part of festive meals, although the dish doesn’t have specific symbolism tied to good luck or prosperity in the same way some other foods do. Nonetheless, the tradition of preparing elaborate meals like Chạo Tôm during Tết highlights the importance of family gatherings and abundance, as food plays a central role in celebrating the holiday and bringing families together.

 Recipe adaptation  by chef Nina “Teddie” Huynh. Photography: Kim Low

“Tết, or Lunar New Year, is a time for me to reconnect with my Vietnamese roots, celebrate family, and honour the traditions that shape my cooking. It’s about renewal, gratitude, and the joy of sharing meals with loved ones. The food we prepare during Tếtcarries deep meaning, symbolising prosperity, health, and harmony. For me, it’s a chance to blend traditional flavours with sustainable practices while keeping the spirit of abundance and community alive.” – Chef Nina ‘Teddie’ Huynh

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