Janet Quik
WHAT used to be a simple dish featuring a julienne of vegetables and slices of raw fish has become a work of art as Malaysians unleash their creativity in making Yee Sang.
Over the Chinese New Year, the Creative Yee Sang contest organised by Star Media Group and AEON Bhd saw a selection of Yee Sang dishes that are a feast for the eyes. For their efforts, 10 winners received RM180 worth of AEON vouchers.
Beyond merely hosting the contest and offering vouchers to the winners, AEON aims to take this simple dish that's of truly Malaysian origin and set it up as an on-going annual trend.
The retailer hopes to set yee sang as the hallmark of a healthy staple meal; something that anyone can artfully arrange, then toss up, rather like a salad, as a delicious appetiser.
Although there are ingredients that have traditionally come together to form an auspicious yet wholesome delicacy that heralds the beginning of a Lunar New Year, anyone with a clever mind and discerning palate will be able to plate up a winning platter.
With that, AEON plans to fan this creativity and promote the nutritional goodness of yee sang each year onwards.
Healthful servings
As Malaysians, we celebrate every festive season and Hasnawati Yahaya is no exception.
The 39-year-old entrepreneur who enjoys Yee Sang with her Chinese friends during CNY says: “This is my first time making Yee Sang creatively. To reflect the Year of the Tiger, I featured a tiger with a lion dance character, using colourful ingredients from fresh vegetables and fruits.”
Lou Sang, the act of tossing Yee Sang, is a must-do activity for Lim Meng Xui’s family every CNY. Her Tiger Yee Sang is made of fresh fruits and vegetables including carrot, purple cabbage, jicama and abalone, which according to the 26-year-old executive, represents good fortune.
A must-have dish for every CNY, Helen Chin, 70, got her inspiration for Yee Sang from her house decorations. Her submission was a fan-shaped Yee Sang. “My Prosperity Yee Sang has all the ingredients that symbolise abundance, prosperity and good health.”
Food artist Janet Quik, 49, found inspiration in the lively and energetic lion dance. She named her dish the Lion Dance Yee Sang, made up of sweet turnip, carrot, strawberry, mango, red cabbage, red currant, mulberry, pomegranate, lettuce, nori sheet, roasted sesame seeds and peanuts, paired with her homemade sauce, plus abalone.
Emily Anne Manjit’s Yee Sang dish was inspired by nature. The 22-year-old undergraduate from Johor Baru crafted her Tiger Yee Sang with carrot, jicama, strawberry, mandarin orange, black sesame seeds, nori sheet, Japanese cucumber, peanuts, red currant, fried wonton skin, abalone and lettuce.
Educator Seet Wei Ching, 43, describes her Tiger Yee Sang as having “an appealing and cute tiger face, made up of cashew nuts, mix berries, fresh shredded pear, carrot, raddish, seaweed, dried vermicelli, crispy crackers, peanuts and sesame seeds, drizzled with apricot jam, honey and passion fruit dressing. A healthy version with all the right notes – sweet, tangy, savoury and crunchy, suitable for the whole family.”
Jessica Lai Chooi Foon has been making Yee Sang for her family and in-laws – all homemade from the sauce to the crackers. Her dish has always featured the zodiac sign of the year and this CNY her winning creation was named Happy Roaring Yee Sang, featuring an adorable tiger and the Chinese character for “Ong” which is the family surname.
After her friend tagged her on Facebook to inform her about the contest, Felicia Chew decided to join in too. The social media content creator got her idea from Michelin star art-plating photos, and came up with a 3D-like tiger for her Yee Sang.
Chow Yin Yin’s mother was born in the Year of the Tiger so the 34-year-old food artist and educator dedicated her Tiger Yee Sang to her mother for always being brave and courageous for the family.
See Bee Lian’s Rainbow Yee Sang is about life being full of obstacles and ups and downs.
Such creativity and effort seen in the contest submissions is a reflection of Malaysians’ passion for food. The Creative Yee Sang contest is indeed a showcase of Malaysian talent.
