{{short description|Traditional Belgian stew}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = Waterzooi | image = (waterzooi) (79743868).jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Lobster ''Waterzooi'' garnished with vegetables | country = {{flag|Belgium}} | region = Flanders | type = Stew | main_ingredient = Fish or chicken, vegetable broth, egg yolks, cream }}
'''Waterzooi''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋaːtərˌzoːi|lang|Nl-waterzooi.ogg}}) is a soup from Belgium and originating in Flanders. The second part of the name derives from the Middle Dutch terms ''sode'', ''zo(o)de ''and ''soot'', words referring to the act of boiling or the ingredients being boiled.<ref name="vdew">''van Dale Etymologisch Woordenboek'', p.965, dr. P.A.F. van Veen & drs. Nicoline van der Sijs, 1989, {{ISBN|90-6648-312-1}}</ref> It is sometimes called ''Gentse Waterzooi'' which refers to the Belgian town of Ghent where it originated. The original dish is often made of fish, either freshwater or salt, (known as ''Viszooitje''), though today chicken ''waterzooi'' (''Kippenwaterzooi'') is more common. The most accepted theory is that rivers around Ghent became too polluted and the fish there disappeared.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gentblogt.be/2006/11/17/gentse-waterzooi|title=Gentse Waterzooi » Gentblogt|work=gentblogt.be}}</ref> Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor ate the rich dish, even after suffering from gout.<ref>Patricia Carson, ''Fair Face of Flanders'' (Belgian Art Research Institute, 2001), p. 124.</ref>
==Varieties== All versions are based on a soup-base of egg yolk, cream, and thickened vegetable broth. The stew itself contains fish or chicken, vegetables including carrots, onions, celery, leeks, potatoes and herbs such as parsley, thyme, bay-leaves and sage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Le Waterzooi Gantois (cuisine de Gand)|url=http://users.skynet.be/la_cuisine_belge/waterzooi_gantois_cuisine_belge.html|publisher=La Bonne Cuisine|access-date=11 March 2013}}</ref>
===Fish=== Originally, burbot was used but this fish had all but disappeared from the rivers until its recent return due to conservation efforts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Na meer dan 40 jaar opnieuw kwabaal in Grote Nete|url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/2661/Dieren/article/detail/1126480/2010/06/29/Na-meer-dan-40-jaar-opnieuw-kwabaal-in-Grote-Nete.dhtml|access-date=11 March 2013|newspaper=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=29 June 2010}}</ref> Nowadays, fish such as eel, pike, carp and bass are used, though other fish such as cod, monkfish, or halibut can be used. ''Gentse Waterzooi van Tarbot'' includes turbot.
===Meat=== Chicken is a popular alternative to fish in the recipe, though the rest of the ingredients remain the same.
==See also== {{Portal|Belgium|Food}} *Belgian cuisine *List of stews
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{commonscatinline|Waterzooi}}
Category:Belgian stews Category:Fish stews Category:Chicken soups