Good food. Less fuss.
From the EZdish collection

Classic Chicken Waterzooi

Belgian · Main · Soup

A traditional Belgian cream-based stew from Ghent, featuring tender chicken and seasonal root vegetables in a rich, velvety broth.

IntermediateHigh protein
Jump to recipe
Classic Chicken Waterzooi — recipe cover
1 hrA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time15 min
Cook time45 min
Servings4 people
DifficultyIntermediate
Let's make something good

How to make it

7 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot

    Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.

  2. Add the sliced leeks, carrots, and celery

    Add the sliced leeks, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened but not browned.

    5 min
  3. Add the chicken pieces, chicken stock, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf

    Add the chicken pieces, chicken stock, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf to the pot. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

  4. Bring to a gentle boil

    Bring to a gentle boil, then add the cubed potatoes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender.

    25 min
  5. Whisk together the heavy cream and egg yolks

    In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and egg yolks to create a liaison.

  6. Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf

    Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Take a ladle of the hot broth and slowly whisk it into the cream mixture to temper it. Pour the tempered mixture back into the pot while stirring constantly.

  7. Heat gently for 2-3 minutes without letting it boil

    Heat gently for 2-3 minutes without letting it boil. Stir in the fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately in deep bowls.

    3 min

A little kitchen wisdom

Waterzooi is a classic Flemish dish. While traditionally made with fish, the chicken version (Gentse Waterzooi) is now the most popular. Do not let the soup boil after adding the egg yolks and cream, or it may curdle.

What you'll need

Large heavy-bottomed potWhiskLadleVegetable peeler
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

The soup base (without the egg and cream) can be made a day in advance. Reheat and add the cream/egg mixture just before serving.

Store & enjoy

Store leftovers in an airtight container. Reheat very gently on the stove to prevent curdling. Do not microwave on high power; low heat on the stove is best.

Allergens

Contains milk, eggs.

Your next favorite, all in one place

A recipe worth keeping.

Save your favorites, plan your meals, and make cooking feel easy with EZdish.

Get the app
Keep exploring

More recipes to try

An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

Classic Chicken Waterzooi
Step 1 of 7

Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot

Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.