Chinese New Year is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate it than with traditions and food. Add to your festivities Yee Sang, also known as Prosperity Salad.
What Is Yee Sang?
Yee Sang or Yú Shēng (鱼生) aka Prosperity Salad is a popular festive dish in Malaysia and Singapore. It is traditionally eaten during Chinese New Year and is usually part of the opening ceremony of a meal.
As a fellow Malaysian, it is an essential New Year dish in my book.
It’s also known as Lo Hei in Cantonese (捞起), which means “to scoop up wealth.” It’s originally called qī cǎi yúshēng (七彩鱼生), seven colors of the rainbow, hence the look.
If you’re unfamiliar with the symbolism of Chinese New Year dishes, you must have at least heard of nián nián yǒu yú (年年有余), meaning abundance through the years or may you have surplus every year. 余 is a homophone for 鱼 (fish), and therefore, there must be fish on the table for New Year’s dinner. This is one of many auspicious wishes, jí xiánɡ huà (吉祥话), said throughout the season.
Yee Sang Ingredients & Auspicious Wishes
The following are the components that are typically used in Yee Sang and the auspicious wishes that accompany:
Raw Fish 年年有余 nián nián yǒu yú
Abundance through the years
Pomelo 大吉大利 dà jí dà lì
Great fortune and luck
Pepper 招财进宝 zhāo cái jìn bǎo
Ushering in wealth and prosperity
Carrot 鸿运当头 hóng yùn dāng tóu
May opportunity and luck knock on your door
Green Radish 青春常驻 qīng chūn cháng zhù
Eternal youth
White Radish 步步高升 bù bù gāo shēng
Advancement in business and work
Peanuts 金银满屋 jīn yín mǎn wū
May your home be filled with gold and silver
Sesame Seeds 生意兴隆 shēng yi xīng lóng
May your business flourish
Wonton Crackers 满地黄金 mǎn dì huáng jīn
May gold cover your floors
Plum Sauce 甜甜蜜蜜 tián tián mì mì
Sweet and loving relationships
Oil 财源广进 zhāo cái jìn bǎo
May money flow in from all directions
Oil is poured encircling all the ingredients to emphasize “money flows in from all directions.”
Malaysian comedian Ronnie Chieng’s stand-up about Chinese New Year and the meaning of Gong Xi Fa Cai really sums up a large part of what this holiday is about.
Variations for ingredients include red pickled ginger, sun-dried oranges, candied pomelo, jellyfish, five spice powder, or anything that can pass for symbolism and be deemed OK to put into Yee Sang.
The “salad” tends to be sweet from the honey and plum dressing, and crunchy with all the different textures.
How To Eat Yee Sang
The ceremony of Yee Sang is most fun. It begins with the plating. A host usually leads the building of the dish by accompanying each component with the corresponding well wishes.
Then, it’s time to start scooping / 捞-ing. The mixing of the salad is supposed to be done with an appropriate amount of pomp and energy. Diners stand around the plate and mix the salad in unison with chopsticks, lifting it up as high as possible.
Yes, it will be messy.
It is also customary to give additional well wishes, bellowed at full volume with each lift. Here are some you can say, most are usually along the lines of wealth and luck. Any of the aforementioned auspicious wishes may also be used.
- 新年快乐 xīn nián kuài lè – Happy New Year
- 恭喜发财 gōng xǐ fā cái – Happiness & prosperity / “hope you get rich”
- 万事如意 wàn shì rú yì – All the best wishes
- 身体健康 shēn tǐ jiàn kāng – To good health
- 福运蛇来 fú yùn shé lái – Here comes the lucky snake
- 蛇衔财宝 shé xián cái bǎo – The snake brings treasure
- 金玉满堂 jīn yù mǎn tang – May gold and jade fill your halls
- 财源滚滚 cái yuán gǔn gǔn – May a river of gold flow into your pockets
- 顺顺利利 shùn shùn lì lì – Smooth sailing all around
Really, there are hundreds if not thousands more ways to wish prosperity upon one another.
The Yee Sang may be consumed after it has been sufficiently mixed, hopefully with minimal spillage, or until you run out of jixianghua. Ideally, you’d want at least one bite of the Yee Sang to “absorb the luck.”
Where To Get Yee Sang in Shanghai / Beijing
Finally, where can you get this awesome celebration dish?
I recommend the one from Jumbo Seafood. Mostly because you can order it through Eleme or Meituan on the day and get it delivered in less than an hour. Search for “珍宝海鲜” to find Jumbo on those delivery platforms.
Jumbo only has the one with abalone this year, available in three sizes, ¥138 (328g), ¥198 (654g), and ¥298 (1,090g), until February 28, 2025.
You can also call to pre-order and pick up in person. Jumbo seafood has three locations in Shanghai, one in Beijing, and one in Nanjing. Jumbo Shanghai locations: IAPM (64663435), IFC (68953977), L’Avenue (62183035).
Speaking of, Jumbo also has a bunch of other Chinese New Year dishes too. They have a fantastic (and great value) Poon Choi, loaded with sea cucumber, prawns, fresh and dried scallops, abalone, duck, mushrooms, tofu, and so much more. It’s ¥698/2kg for four people, ¥1,388 (4kg) for eight, ¥178 per extra serving.
Additional images via stock photos
Happy Chinese New Year!
And for my fellow countrymen… Heng Ah! Ong Ah! Huat Ah!
