Koi

Koi is a raw meat dish that is prevalent in Lao culture and in the northeastern Thailand region of Isan. The most popular iterations of koi are prepared in a way similar to a salad. The basic recipe involves thinly sliced fish (usually locally caught tilapia) with chopped greens (yardlong beans, shallots, and galangal), mixed and seasoned with ground roasted rice, chili flakes, fish sauce, and lime juice.

Although the original version of koi is made with raw fish, it is also acceptable to blanch the fish in boiling water beforehand. This is because some raw fish can transmit liver infections and the blanching process leads to a much safer way of preparing the dish.

Some other variations of koi, particularly popular in Thailand, are koi pla, made with raw fish and live red ants, and koi hoi, made with raw snail meat.