Gentse Waterzooi van Kip met Kruiden
A rich and creamy chicken stew originating from Ghent, Belgium. This comforting dish features tender chicken and vegetables simmered in a velvety broth enriched with cream and fresh herbs.
🧂 Ingredients
- 800 g Chicken thighs(boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 50 g Butter
- 2 large Leeks(white and light green parts only, thinly sliced)
- 2 medium Carrots(peeled and diced)
- 2 medium Celery stalks(diced)
- 1 liter Chicken broth
- 200 ml Heavy cream
- 2 large Egg yolks
- 30 g Fresh parsley(chopped)
- 15 g Fresh chives(chopped)
- 10 g Fresh tarragon(chopped)
- to taste Salt
- to taste White pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leeks, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened, about 8-10 minutes.
- 2
Add the chicken pieces to the pot and cook until lightly browned on all sides.
- 3
Pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- 4
In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and egg yolks. Temper the cream mixture by gradually whisking in about 1 cup of the hot broth from the pot. This prevents the eggs from scrambling.
- 5
Pour the tempered cream mixture back into the pot. Stir gently and cook over low heat for another 5 minutes, until the stew has thickened slightly. Do not boil.
- 6
Stir in the chopped fresh parsley, chives, and tarragon. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
- 7
Serve hot, traditionally with crusty bread or boiled potatoes.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the vegetables are finely diced for even cooking.
- ✓Do not boil the stew after adding the cream and egg yolk mixture, as it can curdle.
- ✓Use fresh herbs for the best flavor.
🔄 Variations
- Substitute fish (like cod or sole) for chicken for a seafood version.
- Add a bay leaf during the simmering process for extra depth of flavor.