Chinese Lunar New Year: Yu Sheng Lucky Toss Salad

The Yu Sheng traditional lucky toss salad goes back to southern China. It is very popular today in Malaysia and Singapore. I first participated in this wonderful tradition in 2012 in Singapore where the  salad is sold in packets in local stores. Unfortunately, stateside you are unlikely to find such convenience. Here is a basic recipe, along with photos of my celebration from last year. As your guests toss the ingredients up with chopsticks, they should shout, "Lo Hei" which means tossing up good fortune in Cantonese.


Lunar New Year Yu Sheng Salad

These general ingredients should be arranged in separate piles on a large platter as shown in the photo. They symbolize:

Fish = abundance (I use smoked salmon or tuna)
Pomelo = luck (I use red grapefruit)
Mandarin oranges = prosperity
Cucumber = close family ties
Noodles = long life (rice noodles do not work well)
Peanuts = eternal youth
Radish = promotion of business and work (red or white work)
Fried flours crisps = gold (I use gluten free crackers crumbled)
Carrots = good luck
Mushrooms = longevity
Also use these items:
Pepper = money (for sprinkle packet)
Oil = abundant profit (spray over all the ingredients before the toss)
Sesame seeds = business success (for sprinkle packet before toss)
Chinese Five spice (easy to find contains cinnamon, anise, peppercorn, clove, fennel)

Before tossing with chopsticks, I have a guest sprinkle a red envelope of 1 teaspoon of Chinese Five spice powder, a little pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of sesame seeds combined. Lo Hei!