Jake Harper
Chicken Marengo is a dish with French and Northern Italian roots, consisting of chicken sautéed in oil with garlic and tomato, garnished with fried eggs and crayfish. The dish is said to have originated in the town of Marengo, south of Alessandria, Italy, after Napoleon's victory against the Austrian army in June 1800. The dish was created by Napoleon's chef, Dunand, who foraged for ingredients in the town and created the dish from local produce, including chicken, olive oil, tomatoes, and herbs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The dish is said to have originated in Marengo, a small village in Northern Italy, after Napoleon defeated the Austrian army in June 1800. |
| Originator | It is believed that the dish was created by Napoleon's chef, Dunand (or Dunan), who foraged for ingredients in the local area. |
| Original Ingredients | Chicken, olive oil, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, and crayfish or crawfish. |
| Region | The dish is considered both French and Northern Italian. |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken Marengo was named after the Battle of Marengo
Chicken Marengo is a French and Northern Italian dish. It consists of chicken sautéed in oil with garlic and tomato, garnished with fried eggs and crayfish. The dish is similar to chicken à la Provençale, but with the addition of egg and crayfish, which are traditional to chicken Marengo but are often omitted.
Napoleon enjoyed the dish so much that he had it served to him after every battle. Over time, the recipe evolved, and Dunand substituted mushrooms for crayfish and added wine. However, Napoleon refused to accept the altered dish, believing that any change would bring him bad luck.
While the origin story of Chicken Marengo being created by Napoleon's chef is widely circulated, food historian Alan Davidson has disputed this claim. Davidson noted that tomatoes, an essential ingredient in the dish, would not have been accessible. He believes that Chicken Marengo was instead created by a restaurant chef to commemorate Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Marengo.
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It was created by Napoleon's chef, Dunand
Chicken Marengo is a dish that was created to celebrate a Napoleonic victory in the Battle of Marengo in June 1800. The dish is said to have been invented by Napoleon's chef, Dunand, who created it from locally sourced ingredients. The chef scoured the countryside near the town of Marengo, south of Alessandria in Northern Italy, and found chicken, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, and crayfish. Dunand then fried the chicken in olive oil with tomatoes and herbs, garnishing the dish with a fried egg and crayfish.
The dish was named Chicken Marengo to commemorate the battle and became a favourite of Napoleon, who is said to have requested it after every battle. The dish is considered a French and Northern Italian speciality, with tomatoes, olive oil, and fresh herbs as the main ingredients.
The original recipe has evolved over time, with modern adaptations using mushrooms instead of crayfish and adding wine to the recipe. However, it is said that Napoleon refused to accept any changes to the original dish, believing that it would bring him bad luck.
While the creation of the dish is often attributed to Dunand, some sources suggest that it may have been created by a restaurant chef to honour Napoleon's victory. Food historian Alan Davidson notes that tomatoes, an essential ingredient in the dish, would not have been accessible at the time.
Chicken Marengo remains a popular dish today, known for its simplicity and flavourful combination of ingredients. It is often served with sides such as garlic bread or rice, and its aroma is said to be enticing, bringing people into the kitchen in anticipation of a delicious meal.
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The dish was first made in 1800
The story goes that Napoleon's chef, Dunand (or Dunan), created the dish with ingredients foraged from the town as the supply wagons were too far away. The original dish was made with chicken, olive oil, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, and crayfish or crawfish. Dunand is said to have sautéed the chicken in oil with garlic and tomato and garnished it with fried eggs and crayfish.
Over time, the recipe has evolved, and today, it is commonly made with mushrooms instead of crayfish. According to legend, when Dunand substituted crayfish with mushrooms and added wine to the recipe, Napoleon refused to eat it, believing that changing the recipe would change his luck.
While the above story is the most popular, it has been disputed by food historian Alan Davidson, who noted that tomatoes, an essential ingredient in the dish, would not have been available. Davidson believes that the dish was created by a restaurant chef to honour Napoleon's victory rather than by Napoleon's chef.
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It's a French and Northern Italian dish
Chicken Marengo is a French and Northern Italian dish. It consists of chicken sautéed in oil with garlic and tomato, garnished with fried eggs and crayfish. The dish is similar to chicken à la Provençale, but with the addition of egg and crayfish, which are traditional to chicken Marengo but are now often omitted.
The original dish was named to celebrate the Battle of Marengo, a Napoleonic victory in June 1800. According to a popular myth, the dish was first made after Napoleon defeated the Austrian army at the Battle of Marengo in Marengo, south of Alessandria, Italy. It is said that Napoleon's chef, Dunand, foraged in the town for ingredients because the supply wagons were too distant. Dunand then created the dish from what he could gather.
Another version of the story suggests that a restaurant chef created the dish to celebrate Napoleon's victory. This version has been supported by food historian Alan Davidson, who noted that there would have been no access to the tomatoes essential to the dish.
The original recipe features specialties from Northern Italy, including olive oil, tomatoes, and herbs. Chicken, eggs, crayfish, and reportedly truffles also made their way into this dish. The recipe has evolved over time, with modern adaptations often substituting mushrooms for crayfish and adding wine to the recipe.
Chicken Marengo is typically prepared by browning chicken pieces in butter and olive oil, before removing the chicken and adding sliced onions. A ''campaign' tomato sauce' is then prepared by combining tomatoes, salt, pepper, and herbs, and warming over a gentle flame. The chicken is returned to the casserole, and the tomato sauce is added. A 'Marengo Sauce' is then made by mixing white wine, water, and flour, which is also added to the chicken and tomatoes. The dish is simmered for about an hour, and button mushrooms are added for a further 15 minutes of cooking. Fried garlic croutons and a fried egg are laid on top of the chicken portions, and crayfish can also be added.
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It's made with chicken, tomatoes, and crayfish
Chicken Marengo is a French and Northern Italian dish that was created in the town of Marengo, Italy, to celebrate Napoleon's victory over Austrian forces in June 1800. The dish was invented by Napoleon's chef, Dunand, who created it using locally sourced ingredients, as his supply wagons were too far off. The original recipe included chicken, olive oil, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, and crayfish.
Chicken Marengo is a simple one-pot meal that can be served as a special weeknight dinner or at a dinner party. It is a versatile dish that can be served with rice, pasta, or egg noodles, and paired with a side salad or vegetables.
The classic recipe involves sautéing chicken pieces in butter and olive oil with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Once browned, flour and wine are added, followed by broth, and the dish is cooked over low heat. Before serving, it is garnished with chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon.
Over time, the recipe has evolved, and some variations include mushrooms, onions, garlic, and thyme. The dish is typically served with a fried egg and crayfish on top, though these ingredients are sometimes omitted. In one variation, the chicken is browned in bacon drippings instead of butter or oil, and the dish is topped with crisp crumbled bacon.
Chicken Marengo is a flavorful and aromatic dish that has become a beloved classic, with a rich history dating back to the time of Napoleon. It is a simple yet special meal that can be adapted to suit modern pantries and individual tastes.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken Marengo is believed to have originated in the town of Marengo, south of Alessandria, Italy.
The dish is credited to Dunand, chef to Napoleon's army in Italy. However, some believe it was created by a restaurant chef.
Chicken Marengo was purportedly created to celebrate Napoleon's victory against Austrian forces in the Battle of Marengo in June 1800.
