As we welcome the Lunar New Year, it’s the perfect time to celebrate with dishes that symbolize prosperity. These dishes also represent abundance and fresh beginnings. Hamachi crudo is a light and elegant raw fish dish. It is an excellent choice for your festive table. It offers a modern twist on traditional prosperity foods like sashimi-style fish or Yu Sheng (鱼生).

Why Hamachi?

Hamachi (yellowtail) is rich, buttery, and silky, making it a luxurious treat for special occasions. In Chinese culture, fish (鱼, yú) symbolizes surplus and prosperity for the year ahead. Serving hamachi raw highlights its freshness, bringing out its natural sweetness and umami flavors. Extra bonus- it’s high in omega 3 with its anti-inflammatory properties.

How to Make a Stunning Hamachi Crudo for CNY

🌿 Ingredients:

• 200g fresh hamachi (sashimi-grade), thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp Ponzu (or light soy sauce)
• 1 tbsp yuzu juice (or fresh lime juice)
• 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
•  ½ tsp finely chopped scallions (or coriander)
•  ½ tsp finely chopped shallots (or grated ginger)
•  ½ tsp of Yuzu Kosho (Yuzu Pepper Paste) (honey can also be used, or omit altogether)
• 1 red chili, finely sliced (optional, for a touch of heat and for the colour)
•  Garnishes: Edible flowers, microgreens, sesame seeds.

I was lucky enough to find small flowers on my snow-pea shoots so I used those as my edible flowers

🍽 Instructions:

1. Arrange the hamachi slices in a single layer on a serving plate.
2. In a small bowl, mix the Ponzu/soy sauce, yuzu juice, sesame oil
3. Drizzle the dressing over the hamachi.
4. Garnish with chili slices, microgreens, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
5. Place a small dab of Yuzu Kosho on each piece of Hamachi and dab a few decoratively on the plate
6. Serve immediately and enjoy with loved ones as a symbolic dish of luck and wealth!

🎊 Perfect for CNY Gatherings

Hamachi crudo is a fresh and light starter, balancing out the rich, indulgent Lunar New Year feasts. It’s a dish that wows visually while offering delicate yet bold flavors. An auspicious way to start the year with elegance and abundance!

In previous years, I’ve gone to the (quite considerable) effort of making a Prosperity Salad. This dish, known as Lo Hei 撈起 (toss together) is another way of serving Yu Sheng 魚生 (raw fish). It is a colorful and refreshing appetizer salad of vegetables and raw fish. You “toss” the ingredients with chopsticks. The ingredients and the dish signify prosperity, longevity, and good fortune. The higher you toss, the greater luck in the new year! Serving hamachi crudo this year was a lot easier and just as symbolic.

🔴🟡 Wishing you a year filled with prosperity, joy, and delicious moments! 🐉🧧

Would you serve this for your Chinese New Year reunion dinner? Let me know in the comments!