Best Lo Hei YuSheng with Abalone 鲍捞起 - Top up your Lo Hei Yu Sheng with a Canned Abalone. An abundance and Prosperity wishes in Business Lou Hei Yusheng in Singapore Chinese New Year (CNY 2023).

Best Lo Hei YuSheng with Abalone 鲍捞起 - Top up with Canned Abalone 鲍鱼 and you have 鲍捞起. An Abundance of Prosperity in Business. Lou Hei Yusheng in Singapore Chinese New Year 2023.

 

What is Lo Hei YuSheng in Singapore 捞起鱼生?

Lou Hei Yu Sheng is a popular dish served during Lunar New Year. It consistsf raw fish, vegetables, and various other ingredients, and is often considered a centrepiece during new year celebrations. The name of the dish literally means "tossed salad with raw fish", and it is said to be auspicious as it symbolises a good start to the new year. Chinese restaurants often offer Lou Hei Yu Sheng during the Lunar New Year period, and it is usually colourful and festive.

Lo Hei Yu-Sheng Dish Facts You Must Know

What are the key 5 things you need to know about Yu Sheng, or Lo Hei? We were fortunate two years ago to be invited by Singapore Airlines to appear in their SilverKris Magazine, the Premium in-Flight Magazine that is being circulated around 67 countries in-flight and online. In Michele Koh Morollo’s editorial article on the “things you need to know about Yu Sheng”, she talks about the Key things you need to know about Yu-Sheng. The article highlights the history of Yu Sheng and the essential ingredients to make this an experience. Some of these essential ingredients can be discovered in our store in Hong Kong Street, close to the annual Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatown. 
Loh-Hei Yu-Sheng usually consists of slices of raw fish (Salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces, spices power and condiments, among other selected ingredients. Yu-sheng which literally means “raw fish” but since “fish (鱼)” in cantonese also sounds simillar to “abundance (余)”, Yu-sheng (鱼生) is used in this case a homophone, (a word that is pronounced the same but has another but differs in meaning) for Yú-shēng (余升), which means ever-increasing in abundance. Hence, it is considered here a great symbol of abundance, prosperity and Plenty.

What is Yu Sheng (鱼生)Chinese New Year Dish?

Yu Sheng is a must-see for any Singaporean or any tourist visiting Singapore during Chinese New Year. It is a local dish with a name that translates to “Raw fish” 魚生, but it’s a homophone for “Increase in Abundance” 余. This the well-wishing meaning of this fish salad dish. During the festivities, restaurants will be selling Yu Sheng dishes which usually contain salmon, abalone, and sometimes lobster. Chinese Specialty Stores, such as Teck Sang 德生, also sells the ingredients, such as abalone and salmon, to the hosts of CNY gatherings. Singapore Airline’s editorial highlights the richness of this part of Singaporean culture. Yu Sheng is such a beloved and unique local experience, it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Singapore Airlines has done a fantastic job shining the light on this must-have dining experience for any traveler. The mood is usually celebratory, enthusiastic and joyous. Singapore Airline’s article covers the meanings of the ingredients in their article in depth.
   
   (Source: Singapore Airlines) 

It’s a Toss-Up good Fortune, luck and Prosperity

In Cantonese speaking circles, sometimes the dish is called 'Lo Hei'. Lo Hei 捞起 is the action of tossing up the Yu Sheng dish - a prosperity toss. This act is the mixing and completion for blessings to come this year. Usually what happens during Lo Hei is the shouting of well wishes and blessings between loved ones to colleagues. For those lucky few who may have been invited to a Lo Hei event, we have suggestions for what to say and what to bring to a Lo Hei event later in the article.
lo hei diagram

Why can’t I find this in China or Australia?

Yu Sheng is exclusively a Singaporean and Malaysia tradition, making Yu Sheng truly and experience for your travel bucket-list. In this Singapore Airline’s article, they trace the southern Chinese origins of the dish to its migration from the Cantonese and Teochew people to Singapore in the 19th century. Now, Singapore and Malaysia is the only place in the world where you can experience excellent Yu Sheng. We recommends few locations where you can access Lo Hei at the bottom of this post.  

Why do we Lou Hei Yu Sheng 捞起鱼生 during the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year is a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate. A key part of the celebrations is the "lou hei" or "tossing of the yu sheng". This dish, which literally means "raw fish", is a Cantonese dish that is traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve. The yu sheng is a symbol of prosperity and is often placed in the center of the dining table. Tossing the yu sheng is believed to bring good luck and fortune.

The Singaporean way of eating yu sheng

A typical Singaporean yu sheng contains shredded radish, white radish, carrot, green mango, cucumber, fresh ginger slices and spring onion. The ingredients are cut in the shape of julienned strips and are placed on top of a bed of lettuce. The salad is then dressed with fresh lime juice and soy sauce. The dish is served with an array of crackers and peanut sauce.

Popular variations

There are many popular variations on the yu sheng in Singapore. One of the most common variations is to add raw fish fillet to the salad. Other popular additions include prawns and baby abalone or abalone slices. This is done throughout the entire chinese new year. Everyone believed that the higher the toss, the higher the prosperity and vigor for that year. All the sayings to wish “Da Ji Da Li” which means, “Good luck and smooth sailing”. You can also say “财原广进 “Cai Yuan Guang Jin” or 一本万利 “Yi Ben Wan Li” while circling the ingredients with the salad dressing to increase all profits 100,000 times and encouraging money to flow in from all directions.

All you need to know about lo hei

Lo Hei is a popular dish in Singapore and China during Chinese New Year. It is also known as yusheng or raw fish salad. The word "lo" means "toss", while "hei" means "prosperity".

The dish is considered auspicious as the act of tossing the ingredients symbolises a prosperous year ahead. Mandarin oranges, pomelo, radish, carrots, cucumber, spring onion, and raw fish are some of the common ingredients used.

An auspicious phrases are often recited while tossing the yusheng.

First-timers are usually tongue-tied to only “Happy New Year”, “Gong xi Fa Cai”, and “Xinnian Kuai Le”. No problem! Here are 3 Chinese New Year phrases you can use at your first Yu Sheng Lo Hei event:
 
“tian tian mi mi!” – a Mandarin Chinese phrase meaning “May your relationships be sweet and fulfilling.”. 
“Sun Tai Gin Hong!” – means “Wish you years of good health!” in Cantonese.
Zhu Ni Chuen Jia Sing Fu!”- A mandarin chinese phrase that means I wish your family many happy blessings.
lo hei table

Auspicious Phrases for every ingredient

Did you know that the ingredients of Yu Sheng have hidden meanings? For example, when adding the fish to Yu Sheng, the phrase “nian nian you yu” is said, which means “abundance every year”. When lime is added, the phrase “da ji da li” is said, meaning “Good luck and prosperity.” There are many more meanings, as listed below:
  • Carrots and Pomelo – Represents good luck.
  • Green Radish – Represents eternal youth.
  • White Radish – Represents good job opportunities in the coming year.
  • Raw Fish – symbolises abundance and prosperity.
  • Crushed Peanuts – Is a sign that your home will be filled with many valuable possessions.
  • Sesame Seeds – Represent the hope that your business will flourish.
  • Golden Crackers – Symbolises wealth.
  • Plum Sauce –Represents stronger ties among family and friends.
  • Pepper & Cinnamon Powder – signify the wish for wealth
  • Oil – Often drizzled onto the salad in a circular motion rather than poured over. This is to symbolise that money will come from all directions.
It is usually when the waiter is preparing the Yu Sheng, she will recite a series of auspicious phrases while adding each ingredient onto the plate (Usually stored in red packets), as she adds the variety of sauces and condiments, everyone at the table, stand around the table and follows and wish everyone the same. Usually ending with a word that related to the Animal of the year.
Source: City Harvest Church
  
 

Must Bring to Yu Sheng gatherings  

If you are ever attending a CNY event, it is customary to bring the host a gift to wish them a very happy CNY. A gift that makes every Singaporean happy is a can of Chuen Jia Fu Canned Abalone. 
Abalone looks similar to the tael of gold. Putting this in your dish wishes the participants monetary riches, and adds a touch of extravagance. Furthermore, when abalone is added to Yu Sheng, it becomes “Bao Lo Hei”, which changes the meaning to the dish with all your blessings “Combined All Your Blessings”. What a wonderful wish!
The name, Chuen Jia Fu, means “Blessings to your family” – in combination, this gift means “I wish you and your family a year of blessings and monetary prosperity!” – isn’t that sweet?
We recommend the Mexican Abalone or Premium Australian Abalone. Coming from the fresh deep seas off the coast of Mexico, the size of the Mexican abalone is what often wows their recipients. Our other recommendation is the Premium Australian Abalone, which is known for its texture and large-mid size.
You can purchase them at Teck Sang at 10-11 Hong Kong St, Clarke Quay or buy online now.