Get Lucky this Lunar New Year with Malaysian Yu Sheng

While the Western world is winding down from New Year’s celebrations, countries across Asia are gearing up for Lunar New Year. This year, it will fall on Friday 16 February, when families and friends gather to pay their respects to one another, and welcome in the new lunar year with symbolic foods.

Just as the Japanese celebrate with Osechi Ryori, Malaysian and Singaporean people have their own unique customs when it comes to celebrating the New Year. One of the tastiest traditions is the Yu Sheng or Yee Sang, which is believed to have first been created by Chinese immigrants. Also known as the ‘prosperity toss’, Yu Sheng is considered a lucky dish, thanks to its colourful array of symbolic ingredients arranged on a platter. Before anyone is allowed to dig in, friends and family gather around the platter with chopsticks and toss the salad together as high as they can, calling out auspicious phrases, such as “Good luck is approaching”, “May all your wishes be fulfilled”, and “Abundance through the year”.

Symbolic Yu Sheng ingredients

Modern interpretations of the dish may feature up to 27 different ingredients, but for a classic Yu Sheng this Lunar New Year, choose these traditional ingredients specially selected for their symbolism.

• Raw fish – abundance
• Pomelo – luck
• Pepper – to attract wealth
• Oil – drizzled in a circle to encourage money to flow in from all directions
• Carrot – good luck
• Shredded green radish – eternal youth
• Shredded white radish – success in business
• Peanuts – symbolic of gold and silver
• Sesame seeds – flourishing business
• Yu Sheng plum sauce – sweetness in life
• Fried wonton crisps – gold

To celebrate Lunar New Year at home, create your own Yu Sheng or Multicultural New Year menu at home.