Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditionally served with chicken Marsala? ›

What's the difference between chicken Madeira and Chicken Marsala? The difference lies in the broth and the wine used. In this chicken madeira recipe, you use beef broth and Madeira wine. The marsala version of the dish is usually made with chicken stock and with Marsala wine.

Should you use sweet or dry Marsala in your Chicken Marsala recipe? It doesn't make a huge difference, and either option will produce delicious results, but I would go for dry because the sweet Marsala has a bit too much sugar for such a savory dish.

The sauce is made with Marsala wine which is a dry and sweet wine which has a 15-20% alcohol content but don't worry, all of the alcohol will cook out of the sauce. The wine creates a nutty and rich caramelized sauce for the chicken.

While both chicken piccata and chicken Marsala are cooked in the same way, there are a few key differences between the two dishes. Chicken piccata isn't creamy. It's cooked with white wine, chicken broth, capers, and lemon juice. It's tangy and bright instead of rich and creamy.

The best substitute for marsala wine is madeira, another kind of fortified wine with a similar flavour profile. Other alternatives include other fortified wines such as commandaria, sherry, vermouth, and port.

Flour plus fat (butter) = roux. A roux is used as a thickening agent in sauces. Sooo, with the butter from the pan and the butter the mushrooms have absorbed, plus the chicken cutlets coated in flour… This all means when the cutlets get added back to the sauce – that flour and butter combo is what thickens the sauce.

For cooking savory dishes like this one, use a secco (dry), fine (aged one year) ambra or oro Marsala. This impressive dish leans on the wine's flavor profile, giving it a deep and nutty richness. Even better, it comes together quickly, which makes it just as suitable for busy weeknights as weekend entertaining.

Chicken Marsala is a traditional Italian dish that is made with chicken, white wine, and sweet marsala wine. Chicken Marsala is served with tomato sauce and creamy white sauce. The marsala wine used in this dish is a dry marsala.

You could even try a potent dry red tossed in with a bit of sugar and an orange peel as a comparable substitute. “As long as the wine has a little bit of sugar and falls in the 15% to 20% alcohol range, it's going to work in the dish,” Ziata says.

Is chicken piccata or Marsala healthier? ›

Chicken Marsala has the least carbohydrates per 100 grams. Chicken Piccata has the least sugar per 100 grams. Chicken Francese has the most fiber per 100 grams. Chicken Cordon Bleu has the most protein per 100 grams.

Despite its popularity as a dry and semi-dry cooking wine, a high-quality Marsala can also be an excellent sweet wine. It's increasingly common to see it served as an aperitif to whet the appetite or as a delicious digestif to sip after a meal.

Finally, Marsala wine is classified according to its age. Younger wines ("fine" and "superiore") are typically used for cooking and baking. "Superiore riserva" and above are better saved for use as an aperitif (dry) or dessert sip (sweet).

Marsala is a partially oxidized fortified wine, and as such does not require refrigeration after opening. The wine was originally fortified with distilled spirits to better preserve the wine. I would recommend refrigerating the dry style Marsala, as further oxidation would be more noticeable than in the sweeter style.

Typically, Chicken tikka masala is served over rice (try Turmeric Rice, you'll be left licking your fingers over and over again!). It is also served with Naan to mop up the gravy goodness.

Rotisserie chicken would also be sensational with Marsala. Veal/Pork - Saltimbocca could do well here. Thinly pounded veal/pork tenderloin cutlets with sage, prosciutto and melted mozzarella in a white wine sauce.

Best food pairings for Marsala

The sweeter styles make for decadent dessert wines that pair a treat with everything from tiramisu to chocolate torte. They can also hold their own with richer savoury dishes, such as roast chicken, mushroom risotto and recipes with creamy sauces.

The best chicken marsala wine pairing is with lighter red wine types or a full-bodied white wine. Red wine examples include Malbec and Pinot Noir, and white wines include Riesling or Chardonnay. Chicken marsala is naturally savory and creamy, so your wine selection should be based on complementary flavors.