Prosperity Toss (Lo Hei) - Abalone, Serves 6–8 (Pre-order)

"Lo Hei" is a special dish eaten during the Chinese New Year period, particularly on the seventh day of the Chinese New Year (Renri), which is considered the birthday of all humans. This "Lo Hei" features abalone mixed into a salad, with a rich and diverse selection of ingredients, offering a colourful presentation. It is made with a careful blend of various vegetables and accompaniments. The dressing is made from sesame paste, fish sauce, honey, and other ingredients, resulting in a sweet and tangy golden colour.

In Cantonese, “撈起” (Lo Hei) means “to toss or mix.” Its pronunciation is a play on words and symbolizes good luck, rising success, prosperity, and increasing fortune — essentially, the more you toss it, the more prosperous you become.

How to Thaw Frozen “Lo Hei”:
1. Refrigerator thawing: Place the frozen Lo Hei in the refrigerator at 0–4°C for about 6–8 hours or overnight to thaw naturally.
2. Quick room-temperature thawing: If needed urgently, place the sealed package at room temperature for about 1–2 hours until fully thawed.
3. Drain excess water: After thawing, the vegetables for “Lo Hei” may release excess moisture. Drain well or gently pat dry with kitchen paper to improve texture.

How to Enjoy:
1. Add ingredients gradually: Place each ingredient onto the large round plate one by one. With each addition, say a related auspicious phrase.
2. Toss together: Once all ingredients are on the plate, everyone at the table picks up their chopsticks and tosses all the ingredients together.
3. The higher, the better: While tossing, lift the ingredients as high as possible, shouting “Toss it up! Toss it up!” or other auspicious phrases.
4. Best wishes: It is said that the higher you toss, the better your luck and wishes will be for the entire year.