Yes, we all have been there, how do we do the dreaded Lo Hei… Instead of scratching your heads on Huat to say and do, here’s a step by step guide on how to PROPERLY do the Lo Hei.
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- Gather the diners
- Start with the fish
- Pomelo or lime
- Pepper and Five Spice/Cinnamon powder
- Cooking oil
- Plum sauce
- Shredded carrot
- Shredded green radish
- Shredded white radish
- Chopped peanuts
- Pok chui/Deep-fried golden crackers
- Toss everything together
1. Gather the diners
Place the Lo Hei set on the table, and unpack it in preparation for the ceremony. For convenience, many Lo Hei sets come with most of the ingredients already put together, so you can just add the few finishing touches like the oil, seasoning powder, fish and and the crackers.
But if you want the full-on experience, you can add the ingredients one by one – allowing you to utter all 12 lucky phrases for maximum huat – in a suitably large mixing plate (or just cover the whole table with aluminium foil for easy clean up).
Set the mixing plate in the middle of the table so everyone has easy access. Once everyone is gathered, signal the start by saying:
- 恭喜发财 (Gong xi fa cai ): ‘Congratulations for your great wealth!’ 万事如意 (Wan shi ru yi ): ‘May all your wishes be fulfilled!’
2. Always start with the fish (or abalone)
Then, you’ll start adding the Lo Hei ingredients one by one. Start with the starring ingredient: the fish or the abalone. As you add each ingredient, you may utter the following phrases:
- 年年有余 （nián nián yǒu yú): abundance
- 鱼跃龙门 （yú yuè lóng mén): success
- 有余有剩（yǒu yú yǒu shèng): abundance
- 如鱼得水（rú yú dé shuǐ): smooth sailing
*Includes Abalone!
Putting abalone 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”.
3. Pomelo or lime
- 大吉大利（dà jí dà lì): good luck
- 吉祥如意（jí xiáng rú yì): good luck
4. Pepper and Five Spice Powder/Cinnamon Powder with Pepper
These usually come in blue and red paper sachets in your Lo Hei set. Take them out and put them aside to prevent them from getting soggy, so it’s easier to sprinkle them evenly.
- 招财进宝 (zhāo cái jìn bǎo): attract great wealth and treasures
- 鸿运当头（hóng yùn dāng tóu): good luck
- 万紫千红（wàn zǐ qiān hóng:): vibrancy
5. Cooking oil
- 油田满地（yóu tián mǎn dì): abundance
- 事事顺利（shì shì shùn lì): smooth sailing
6. Plum sauce
- 甜甜蜜蜜（tián tián mì mì): sweetness and harmony
- 美美满满（mĕi měi mǎn mǎn): blissful
7. Shredded carrot (The orange one)
- 鸿运当头 ( hong yun dang tou ): ‘Good luck is approaching!’
‘Red’ (hong, referring to the reddish hue of carrots) and ‘great’ (hong) are homophones.
8. Shredded green radish (The green one)
- 青春永驻( qing chun yong zhu ): ‘May you remain forever youthful!’
‘Green’ (qing) and qing in qing chun (‘youthful’) are homophones.
9. Shredded white radish (The white one)
- 风生水起 ( feng sheng shui qi ): ‘May you progress quickly!’
- 步步高升 ( bu bu gao sheng ): ‘May you rise to greater heights!’
10. Chopped peanuts
- 金银满屋 ( jin yin man wu ): ‘May your house be filled with gold and silver!’
11. Pok chui/Deep-fried golden crackers (The best bits)
- 满地黄金 ( man di huang jin )
- 遍地黄金 ( biàn dì huáng jīn )
Both phrases have the same meaning: ‘May your floor be covered in gold!’
12. Toss everything together!
The hard part is done. Now what’s left is to toss everything together into that delicious, tangy, sweet and crunchy Lo Hei loved the world over.
When tossing, bring your chopsticks as high up in the air as you can (but beware of spilling the Lo Hei all over the table and wasting a few tasty bites. Be sure to shout “Huat Ah!” at least a good seven times.
Enjoy Lo Hei as often as you want
Even though Lo Hei is traditionally served as the starting dish during reunion dinner, there’s no reason to limit yourself during Chinese New Year. It’s a fun, delicious and wholesome dish that will be welcome anywhere you go. Try bringing a Lo Hei set during visits; your relatives will appreciate the change from all that bak kwa and pineapple tarts.
More then when or how often, tossing Lo Hei with the people you love, and enjoying the scrumptious mess together, is what truly matters.
Happy Chinese New Year!
with Love,
The Dateideas Team
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