Chinese New Year Inari Age Laughing Prawns Salad (嘻哈大笑虾沙拉)

Why the name “Laughing Prawns”? In Cantonese, the word for prawn is Ha (虾); or in Mandarin, it sounds like 哈, which means laughter.

During the Chinese New Year period or reunion dinners, restaurants love to include auspicious names for their dishes such as the "Laughing Prawns" which represents "Happiness". This year’s CNY reunion dinner was a rather simple affair, no Shark’s Fin, no Abalone, no Bird’s Nest; the first time in my "entire life"!

The menu was specially created for my sis-in-law, who’s seven months pregnant. It’s easy with a menu that includes all the above three delicacies, but it was a challenge for me to go simple. Tricia doesn’t enjoy these as well as Mushrooms or Fried Food. As she’s pregnant, I also couldn’t have Salmon Sashimi in my dishes like Yu Sheng (鱼生). I’d to factor all these in mind when planning my menu.

Tricia enjoys modest & healthy cuisines, so I took me couple of days to come up with this simple menu to #cookforfamily. Thanks to her, I’ve managed overcome the challenge & created this simple & beautiful dishes for our Reunion Dinner!

Recipe Featured @ FoodWhirl, together with my
Orange Blossoms Shredded Pork With Capsicums (花开富贵肉丝) recipe

It was a pity that due to some unforeseen circumstances, she couldn’t join us at the last minute. Nevertheless, let’s all go "Hahaha!" with this refreshing sweet & sour appetizer! I am submitting this post to Chinese New Year Delights 2013 hosted by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover.

Featured @ PetitChef as 'Starter of the Day!'

Ingredients:
12 medium Prawns
2 Hard-boiled Eggs
1 Green Apple
½ Mango (not too ripe so it’s sourish)
1 slice of Watermelon
4 tbsp Salad cream/Mayonnaise (depending on preference)
12 Inari Age (Japanese Beancurd Skin)

Method:

1. Mash eggs & mix with salad cream or mayonnaise. If you prefer a sweeter taste, go with salad cream. I like mine with mayo.

2. Clean & devein prawns; separate the heads. Blanch prawns & heads.

3. Drain & transfer to ice water to prevent them from over-cooking. Dice prawns & set aside.

4. Remove apple & mango skin & dice fruits into small cubes. Soak apple in salt water, lemon juice or cider vinegar to prevent it from browning. I usually use the traditional method of soaking in salt water handed down by my mom. Add them into egg mixture, together with the diced prawns.

5. Remove excess “sauce” from beancurd skin & stuff mixture into the pockets. You may have to cut & adjust the pocket height.

6. Cut up watermelon & start plating your dish. Chill your appetizer & you’re ready impress your guests with this Inari Age Laughing Prawns Salad (嘻哈大笑虾沙拉)!

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner 2013:

• Paradise Pear Soup With Snow Fungus (乐天银耳雪梨汤)
• Orange Blossoms Shredded Pork With Capsicums (花开富贵肉丝)
• Osmanthus Jelly With Wolfberries Recipe (甜甜蜜蜜桂花糕)