Alsatian Fish Stew (Matelote de poissons d'Alsace)
Ingredients
- 1 lb filet of pike
- 1 lb filet of carp
- ½ lb eel
- 1 lb filet of perch
- 6 crayfish
- 2 shallots, finely minced
- Salt
- Heads and tails of the above fish to make a broth
- 1 cup Riesling wine (or other dry white wine)
- 1 oz white granulated sugar
- 1 oz butter
- 1 oz flour
- ½ cup cream
- 1 bouquet garni
- Pepper
- Croutons
- 1 clove garlic
- 4 oz (½ cup) grelot onions (may substitute Mexican green onions)
- 4 oz (½ cup) fresh white mushrooms
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Steps
- Wash fish. Remove debris. Cut into approximately 2 oz pieces.
- Place fish and crayfish in buttered baking dish. Add finely minced shallots. Salt lightly.
- Make fumet from fish heads and tails, Riesling, 1 quart water, bouquet garni, garlic, salt and pepper. Simmer 30 min.
- Strain boiling stock over fish in dish. Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 450°F, 10 min. Remove from oven.
- Place stock in casserole or Dutch oven. Mix butter with flour. Add to liquid, stirring to avoid lumps. Reduce to desired thickness.
- Add cream. Heat gently until it boils. Stop cooking. Strain through a chinois.
- Arrange fish on well-heated plate. Coat with sauce.
- Sauté onions and mushrooms. Add to plate with a few garlic-rubbed croûtons.
- Add one crayfish per plate.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Notes from the original
- As an accompaniment, serve with Nouilles fraîches à l'Alsacienne (fresh Alsatian noodles), or steamed potatoes.
- A dry Riesling will enhance the flavour of the different fishes.
Source. Adapted from “Cookbook:Alsatian Fish Stew (Matelote de poissons d'Alsace)” by Wikibooks contributors, revision of 2026-04-12, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes. Steps rewritten into short commands. Introduction shortened. Wiki formatting removed. This adapted recipe is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.






