History
The Scheldt and Antwerp's polders once supplied eel in volume. The sharp herb sauce, built on sorrel and chervil, balances the rich fish. Once an everyday catch, eel is now a delicacy due to dwindling stocks. Bistro kitchens still serve it in season; the dish appears on tasting menus across Belgian fine dining.
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Common allergens: Fish, Dairy
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 800g freshwater eel, cleaned and cut into 6cm pieces
- 50g sorrel leaves
- 50g flat-leaf parsley
- 30g chervil
- 30g tarragon
- 20g spinach (for colour)
- 200ml white wine
- 200ml fish stock
- 100ml double cream
- 50g butter
- 2 shallots, finely chopped
- Salt, white pepper
Method
- Soften the shallots in butter in a wide pan over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the wine and reduce by half, about 4 minutes.
- Add the stock and bring to a simmer.
- Place the eel pieces in the simmering liquid and poach gently for 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove the eel and keep warm. Reduce the cooking liquid by half.
- Blend the herbs and spinach with the reduced liquid in a blender until bright green.
- Return to the pan, whisk in the cream and remaining butter. Do not boil.
- Pour the sauce over the eel and serve immediately with buttered new potatoes.
Tip from the editors. If fresh eel is hard to find, the dish works with monkfish or pollock fillets; reduce poaching to 5 minutes.
Where to eat paling in 't groen
Paling in 't groen in Antwerp
Bistrot du Nord 1 ★ ★ 4.4
Bistrot du Nord in Antwerp keeps one Michelin star for hearty classical bistro cooking. Michaël Rewers leans on meat and tripe in a tiled vintage room.
OrderAnything off the meat menu; tripe and braised cheek are the chef's signatures.
Book2 weeks ahead
TipClosed Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is the better-value entry, around 50 euro for three courses.
RAS ★ 4.2
RAS in Antwerp sits on the riverfront on Ernest Van Dijckkaai with a Scheldt terrace listed in the Michelin Guide. Located in Historisch Centrum.
OrderWhatever is in season from the North Sea; the chalkboard rotates with the day's catch.
TipThe Scheldt-facing terrace fills first in summer. Reserve the inside river view for sunset dinners.
More places near Bistrot du Nord and RAS
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Nathan Modern French, about 350 m away
- Marolus Belgian Lunch, about 400 m away
- Otomat Belgian Beer-paired Pizza, about 400 m away
- WOLF Sharing Food Market Food hall, about 400 m away
- Bistrot Benoit Franco-belgian Bistro, about 450 m away
- Brewers' Kitchen Belgian, about 450 m away
More cities are in research. Want paling in 't groen covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.