Prosperity Toss Salad Recipe (Yee Sang / Yu Sheng)

Carrot: Shredded for a crunchy texture and vibrant color.

Daikon: Shredded to add a mild, slightly sweet flavor.

Cucumber: Shredded for a refreshing and crisp element.

Red bell pepper: Shredded to provide sweetness and color.

Pickled ginger: Shredded to add a tangy and slightly spicy kick.

Pomelo: Segmented to bring a citrusy and slightly bitter taste.

Smoked salmon: Sliced to add a rich, savory flavor.

Crispy wonton strips: For a crunchy texture.

Plum sauce: Used as a base for the dressing, adding sweetness and depth.

Lime juice: Adds a zesty and tangy flavor to the dressing.

Soy sauce: Provides a salty and umami taste to the dressing.

Sesame oil: Adds a nutty and aromatic flavor to the dressing.

Honey: Sweetens the dressing naturally.

Five-spice powder: A blend of spices that adds warmth and complexity to the dressing.

When shredding the carrot, daikon, cucumber, and red bell pepper, use a mandoline slicer for uniformity and precision. This ensures that all the vegetables have a consistent texture, which is crucial for the overall mouthfeel of the Prosperity Toss Salad. Additionally, make sure to segment the pomelo carefully to avoid any bitter pith, enhancing the sweet and tangy flavor profile of the dish.

• carrot - Substitute with jicama: Jicama provides a similar crunch and mild sweetness, making it a good alternative to carrots.

• daikon - Substitute with radish: Radishes offer a similar peppery flavor and crunchy texture, suitable for replacing daikon.

• cucumber - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini has a similar texture and mild flavor, making it a good stand-in for cucumber.

• red bell pepper - Substitute with yellow bell pepper: Yellow bell peppers have a similar sweetness and crunch, providing a colorful alternative.

• pickled ginger - Substitute with fresh ginger: Fresh ginger can offer a similar spicy kick, though it lacks the pickled tang.

• pomelo - Substitute with grapefruit: Grapefruit has a similar tartness and juiciness, making it a good substitute for pomelo.

• smoked salmon - Substitute with smoked trout: Smoked trout provides a similar smoky flavor and texture, suitable for replacing smoked salmon.

• crispy wonton strips - Substitute with crispy tortilla strips: Crispy tortilla strips offer a similar crunch and can be easily found or made.

• plum sauce - Substitute with hoisin sauce: Hoisin sauce has a similar sweet and savory profile, making it a good alternative to plum sauce.

• lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice provides a similar acidity and brightness, suitable for replacing lime juice.

• soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari offers a similar umami flavor and is a good gluten-free alternative to soy sauce.

• sesame oil - Substitute with peanut oil: Peanut oil has a similar nutty flavor, making it a suitable replacement for sesame oil.

• honey - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup provides a similar sweetness and can be used as a natural sweetener.

• five-spice powder - Substitute with garam masala: Garam masala offers a complex blend of spices, providing a similar depth of flavor.

• Store any leftover Prosperity Toss Salad in an airtight container. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain the freshness of the vegetables and smoked salmon.

• Place the container in the refrigerator. The salad can be kept fresh for up to 2 days. Beyond this period, the vegetables may lose their crispness, and the smoked salmon may not taste as fresh.

• If you plan to prepare the salad in advance, keep the dressing separate from the other ingredients. Store the dressing in a small jar or container in the refrigerator. Mix the dressing with the salad just before serving to maintain the crunchiness of the wonton strips and the freshness of the vegetables.

• For freezing, it is not recommended to freeze the entire Prosperity Toss Salad as the texture of the vegetables and smoked salmon will be compromised. However, you can freeze the smoked salmon separately. Wrap the smoked salmon tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. It can be frozen for up to 2 months.

• When ready to use the frozen smoked salmon, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, use it immediately in the salad to ensure the best texture and flavor.

• Avoid freezing the dressing as the plum sauce and other liquid ingredients may separate upon thawing, affecting the consistency and taste.

• If you have extra wonton strips, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain crispy for up to a week. Add them to the salad just before serving to retain their crunch.

• For the pomelo, it is best to store it separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can last up to 3 days. Add it to the salad just before tossing to keep its juicy texture intact.

• Gently warm the smoked salmon separately in a non-stick pan over low heat for a few minutes. This will help retain its delicate texture without overcooking.

• For the crispy wonton strips, reheat them in an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes. This will help them regain their crispiness.

• The shredded vegetables and pomelo segments are best served cold. If they have been stored in the refrigerator, allow them to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving.

• If the plum sauce dressing has thickened in the fridge, you can warm it slightly in a microwave-safe bowl for about 10-15 seconds. Stir well to ensure it is evenly warmed.

• Once all components are ready, reassemble the salad by arranging the shredded vegetables, pomelo, smoked salmon, and crispy wonton strips on a platter. Drizzle the warmed dressing over the top.

• Toss the salad together with chopsticks, lifting the ingredients high in the air to mix well and symbolize prosperity.

• Large platter: To arrange all the shredded vegetables, pomelo, smoked salmon, and crispy wonton strips.

• Small bowl: To mix together the plum sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and five-spice powder for the dressing.

• Chopsticks: To toss the salad together, lifting the ingredients high in the air to mix well and symbolize prosperity.

• Shredder or grater: To shred the carrot, daikon, cucumber, red bell pepper, and pickled ginger.

• Knife: To slice the smoked salmon and segment the pomelo.

• Cutting board: To provide a surface for slicing the smoked salmon and segmenting the pomelo.

Pre-shred vegetables: Buy pre-shredded carrot, daikon, cucumber, and red bell pepper to save time.

Use pre-sliced salmon: Purchase pre-sliced smoked salmon to avoid the hassle of slicing it yourself.

Ready-made wonton strips: Opt for store-bought crispy wonton strips to cut down on preparation time.

Pre-mix dressing: Prepare the dressing in advance and store it in the fridge for quick assembly.

Segment pomelo ahead: Segment the pomelo the night before and store it in an airtight container.