Waterzooi de Poisson — Flemish Cream and Egg Fish Stew

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Waterzooi (literally 'boiling water' in Flemish) is the great fish stew of Ghent and northern France — a gentle, cream-enriched broth of mixed fish, root vegetables, and leeks, thickened with egg yolks and butter. It sits at the boundary of French and Belgian cuisine, claimed by both with equal passion. The dish represents the northern European approach to fish cookery: butter, cream, and egg rather than olive oil, tomato, and garlic. Cut julienne of leek, celery, carrot, and onion (150g each) and sweat gently in 50g butter for 10 minutes without colour — the vegetables must remain pale. Add 500ml fish fumet, 200ml dry white wine, a bouquet garni, and bring to a gentle simmer. Add firm fish pieces (turbot, monkfish, sole, pike — 800g total, mixed) and poach at 80°C for 10-12 minutes. Remove the fish to warm bowls, keeping the vegetables. The critical finish: whisk together 3 egg yolks and 200ml double cream. Temper by adding 3-4 ladles of hot broth gradually, whisking constantly. Pour the tempered liaison back into the broth over very low heat, stirring gently until the broth thickens slightly and becomes opaque — it should coat the back of a spoon lightly. The temperature must NOT exceed 82°C or the yolks will curdle. Add 30g cold butter, a squeeze of lemon juice, and chopped parsley and chervil. Ladle the vegetables and broth over the fish. Serve with crusty bread. The waterzooi should be pale gold, silky, and delicately creamy — it is a whispered dish, not a shouted one.

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