Reunion Dinner - Bountiful Goldfish Salad (年年有余)

I'm a great fan of food art & this is my 1st attempt creating this Bountiful Goldfish Salad. Nian Nian You Yu (年年有余) symbolizes abundance though the year. The character 余 (Yu) is the homophone of 鱼 (Yu). Hence, fish was used to highlight this Chinese New Year dish.

I wanted to use Strawberries for the tail & fins, & Mango for salad but had to do a 180 deg change at the eleventh hour when I couldn’t find any of these 2 ingredients in the supermart.

My mind had to work fast on the spot as I’d to prepare 7 dishes for the evening all by myself. So I replaced with Green Apple for the salad, Smoked Salmon for fins & Jelly Fish for the tail.

The result was a refreshing appetizer & this recipe, together with my 2 other CNY recipes, has been featured @ OMY-食天堂Eat!

Also featured @ PtitChef as 'Starter of the Day!' &

eRecipe.com

I’d fun decorating the fish, seeking opinion from my hubby on & off, on the manner the fish looks etc. I was ready to present this appetizer for our reunion dinner once he gave the final approval :)

Ingredients:
800g medium Prawns
1 Green apple
1 can of Tuna flakes
3 slices Smoked salmon (fins, mouth)
Few strands of Jelly fish (tail)
2 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tsp Parsley flakes
2 Raisins (eyes)
1 Dried Cherry (mouth)
Grounded black pepper
Lettuce for decoration

Method:

1. Shell & devein prawns. Rinse. Blanch prawns in boiling water. Remove immediately when prawns turn pink & transfer to cold water to top cooking process.

2. Half the prawns & set aside.
3. Remove apple skin. Cut into cubes & put in salt water to prevent it from turning brown. Mix tuna with apples, mayo, parsley & pepper.

4. Begin moulding the shape of the fish by using the tuna mixture. To make "scales", layer the prawns according to pix below.

5. When shape is formed, use mayo to make to line the body. Finally, cut the 2 slices of Salmon into the shape of fins; roll 1 slice to form the mouth. Cut cherry into tiny bites & add 1 to the center of the mouth. Decorate tail with Jelly Fish & you’ll get your creative dish for the festive mood!

*Tip: Do not dispose prawns heads & shells. Keep them; they make tasty stock. Check out my Prawn Bisque Recipe!

Have you participated in my Giveaway? Luxuy Haven is giving away a classy Cookpot this Chinese New Year! Click here to join now & Good Luck! Spread the festive cheer to your friends & let them WIN! Huat Ah!!