According to Wikipedia, yusheng, yuu sahng or yee sang is a Chinese-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments. It is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

It is very popular and known as yee sang among Malaysians and Singaporeans. Don’t surprise if some Chinese outside Malaysia and Singapore do not know what yee sang is. Originally, yee sang was only available and presented as a dish on 7th day of Chinese New Year. However, people nowadays start eating yee sang even before and throughout the Chinese New Year.

The rule of yee sang is that the dish itself must be very colorful. It usually consists of colored flour strips (such as the “chow mein” that some westerners add to salads) in red and green. Normally, it is served with shredded carrot, pickled papaya, shredded radish and ginger which have been dyed red and green, together with crispy strips of fried stuff and some nuts (usually chestnut). Yee sang is arranged on a large plate with each ingredient separate from the other.

Tradition has it that the higher the salad is tossed the better, which is also why you need a large plate for this. The dish must be totally consumed by the diners around the table and nothing left over. Most people speak of prosperity or wealth or something like “lou hei” which means liveliness, prosperity and longevity, during the tossing.

Order this Chinese salad during your next visit to Chinese restaurant.