Eels

Bucket of Eels

Eels (bplaa lai [ปลาไหล]) are a common food in rural Thailand.  Don’t get these eels confused with your unagi sushi, though.  These eels are tiny like garden snakes and not nearly as meaty as the Japanese version. They are cut like a steak (as opposed to a fillet), although each ‘steak’ would be one bite riddled with bones.  Yes they are tiny. And there ends up being a lot of little bones.  It’s quite a chore to eat.  It is generally used as the meat for various curries or it can always be mixed in to the all time favorite with basil leaves, pad graprao[ผัดกะเพรา].