Minnow

minnow any of numerous species of small fish in the carp family, belonging to genera such as Rasbora, Esomus, and Luciosoma. Minnows occur round the world, but are not normally consumed in Europe or N. America. In SE Asia, on the other hand, they are often eaten—scaled, gutted, and fried if large enough, or swallowed alive or cooked whole if small. In Laos, for example, pa sieu is the general name for various small minnows, which may be cooked whole in a banana leaf package with herbs and fish sauce. Another larger (up to 25 cm/10") minnow, Luciosoma bleekeri, has Lao names which allude to its being found in rice paddies.