Chinese Lunar New Year - Welcoming the Ox

A visitor uses a mobile phone to take photographs of a giant lantern in the shape of an ox in Tianjin Municipality, China on January 23, 2009. (REUTERS/Vincent Du)

Today is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, met with celebrations and observations by ethnic Chinese and others around the world. This year, we welcome the Year of the Ox, the sign representing solemn hard work and prosperity - an animal that appears aptly symbolic for these difficult times. Millions of people traveled long distances to be with family during this Spring Festival, choking transit systems in China especially.

Yu Sang or Yee Sang

The seventh day of the Chinese New Year is known as "Everybody's Birthday". The famous food to have in this day is called "Yu Sang". This is a specialty dish originated from Malaysia. Normally colleagues will have this meal together and wish everybody have greater year ahead. "Seven Vegetable Soup" is another famous dish to have during this day. it represents harvest and reminds people to start working hard after the celebration.

Ingredients:

1. Fresh yam/taro
2. Unripened mango
3. Sweet potato
4. White radish
5. Carrot
6. Wonton skins
7. Raw sslmon fillet, sliced thinly
8. Peanuts and sesame seed, roasted
9. Apricot jam
10. Plum sauce
11. Honey
12. Lime
13. Sugar
14. Lemon
15. Brandy/whiskey

Method:

1. Shred white radish, carrot, yam, sweet potato and mango. Split shredded yam into 2 portions, colour one portion green, and the other red.
2. Cut wonton skins into thin strips.
3. Heat oil in saucepan/wok. Deep fry wonton skins, sweet potato and lastly the yam.
4. Mixed salmon with a bit of brandy and lemon juice.
5. Pound roasted peanuts and sesame seed.
6. Arrange attractively on a round platter with salmon in the centre.
7. For the sauce, mix apricot jam, plum sauce, lime juice, honey and sesame oil in a saucepan. Add sugar and salt according to taste.
8. Sprinkle peanut and sesame seed over arranged platter. Pour sauce just before serving.