The invention relates to a method and system for phosphate recovery from a stream such as waste flow, sewage or another sludge stream. The method comprises the steps of: providing an incoming stream comprising an initial amount of phosphate; dosing/controlling iron salt to the stream such that precipitates are formed in the stream, wherein the precipitates comprise vivianite like structures comprising more than 60% of the initial amount of phosphate in the incoming stream, and preferably also the steps of: separating the vivianite like structures from the stream; and recovering the phosphates from the separated vivianite like structures.