Chinese New Year Prosperity Salad

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One of the most exciting and flavourful dishes you’ll encounter during Lunar New Year celebrations is the Chinese New Year Prosperity Salad, also known as Yusheng or Lo Hei. This vibrant and symbolic salad isn't just a treat for the taste buds—it’s also a joyful ritual that celebrates abundance, health, and prosperity.

At Otao Kitchen, we celebrate cultural cooking traditions like these through our hands-on Asian cooking classes in Melbourne, where food meets fun and flavour meets tradition.

Chinese New Year Prosperity Salad

Key Ingredients in a Traditional Yusheng

To prepare this symbolic salad, you’ll need over 20 ingredients—each representing luck, wealth, longevity, health, or happiness.

Here are the core components:

Vegetables (Symbolising wealth and youth)

  • Shredded white radish

  • Shredded green radish

  • Shredded carrots

Fruits and Garnish (Bringing sweetness and success)

  • Pomelo or grapefruit pieces

  • Pickled ginger slices

  • Onion slices

  • Crushed peanuts (symbolising gold and abundance)

  • Sesame seeds

Proteins and Seasonings (For energy and prosperity)

  • Sliced raw salmon or other sashimi-grade fish

  • Essence of chicken or chicken floss (optional modern twist)

  • Oil (symbolising smoothness in life)

  • Five-spice powder

  • Ground white pepper

  • Salt

  • Sugar

  • Vinegar or lime juice

Each ingredient is added with a wish or phrase for good luck. For example, oil is drizzled in a circular motion to symbolise money flowing in from all directions!

How to Toss the Prosperity Salad

  1. Arrange the ingredients beautifully on a large platter.

  2. Add sauces and condiments one by one, reciting blessings like "sweet life" for sugar, or "safe travels" for vinegar.

  3. Toss together using chopsticks while everyone stands and shouts their hopes for the New Year.

  4. The higher you toss, the more luck and prosperity you’re believed to attract!

Why Yusheng Is Perfect for Celebrations

✔️ Fun, interactive group activity
✔️ A meaningful cultural tradition
✔️ Easily customised for dietary needs (vegetarian or gluten-free versions available)
✔️ Full of flavour and colour
✔️ Symbolises a fresh start for the New Year

Learn to Make Yusheng at Otao Kitchen

Want to experience the tradition of making Yusheng in a fun, hands-on environment? Join our Chinese Cooking Classes at Otao Kitchen in Richmond, where we explore the culinary traditions of Lunar New Year and other iconic Asian dishes.

Whether you’re celebrating with your team, friends, or family, a Yusheng-making session is the perfect way to usher in good fortune together.

Final Thoughts: Toss to Prosperity!

The Chinese New Year Prosperity Salad is more than just a dish—it’s a joyful, shared experience that brings people together. Bursting with colour, crunch, flavour, and meaning, Yusheng is a must-have for any Lunar New Year celebration.

🥢 Book a cooking class or host your own Yusheng party with help from Otao Kitchen.
🎊 Celebrate culture, food, and prosperity with every toss!

 

 

Chinese New Year Prosperity Salad (Yusheng) Recipe

Prep Time: 30 mins | Serves: 6–8 people | Skill Level: Easy

Ingredients

Fresh Components:

  • 1 cup white radish, julienned

  • 1 cup green radish, julienned

  • 1 cup carrot, julienned

  • ½ cup pomelo or grapefruit segments, peeled and broken into small pieces

  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced

  • 2 tbsp pickled ginger, thinly sliced

  • 1 small cucumber, julienned (optional)

  • A few sprigs coriander leaves (optional)

Protein (Optional):

  • 150g sashimi-grade salmon, thinly sliced (or substitute with smoked salmon or tofu strips)

Garnishes:

  • 2 tbsp crushed peanuts

  • 1 tbsp white sesame seeds, toasted

  • ½ cup crispy wonton strips or fried crackers (for crunch)

  • 1 tbsp chicken floss or essence of chicken (optional)

Dressing:

  • 2 tbsp plum sauce

  • 1 tbsp lime juice or rice vinegar

  • 1 tsp honey

  • 1 tbsp sesame oil

  • Pinch of five-spice powder

  • Pinch of white pepper

  • Pinch of salt

Method

  1. Prepare and arrange vegetables
    Julienne all vegetables using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife. Arrange each ingredient separately on a large round platter in colourful, radiating sections.

  2. Prepare the dressing
    In a small bowl, mix together the plum sauce, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, five-spice powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.

  3. Add garnishes and salmon
    Place the salmon slices in the centre of the platter. Sprinkle over sesame seeds, peanuts, and crispy wontons. Add chicken floss if using.

  4. Pour the dressing
    Drizzle the dressing evenly over the ingredients just before tossing.

  5. Lo Hei (Toss for Prosperity!)
    Invite everyone to stand around the table with chopsticks in hand. On the count of three, toss the salad high in the air while shouting auspicious Chinese New Year phrases like:

    • “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Wishing you wealth)

    • “Nian Nian You Yu” (Abundance every year)

    • “Sheng Yi Xing Long” (Business to flourish)

  6. Serve immediately
    Once well tossed, divide onto individual plates and enjoy as a refreshing appetiser or side dish.

Notes & Tips

  • For vegetarian versions, replace fish with smoked tofu or jackfruit strips.

  • You can make this salad ahead of time—just keep components separate and toss with sauce before serving.

  • Great for team-building cooking classes, family events, and festive office parties.

Join our Lunar New Year Cooking Classes at Otao Kitchen Richmond to learn more dishes like this, and celebrate the season with authentic hands-on culinary experiences.

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