Claire Thompson
Chicken Marsala is an Italian-American dish of golden pan-fried chicken cutlets and mushrooms in a rich Marsala wine sauce. Marsala is a fortified wine, which means a spirit, usually brandy, has been added to it. It is traditionally made with dry wine, although semi-sweet Marsala can also be used. Sutter Home makes a variety of wines, including Marsala, which can be used for cooking Chicken Marsala.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Fortified wine (wine mixed with a spirit, usually brandy, as a preservative and source of flavour) |
| Wine Origin | Sicily, Italy |
| Flavour | Nutty, caramelized |
| Wine Type | Semi-sweet or dry (not sweet) |
| Wine Brands | Cantine Pellegrino Fine I.P. Marsala |
| Wine Substitutes | Dry sherry, Madeira wine, Spanish sherry (preferably Oloroso), or Lambrusco (a sparkling red wine) |
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What You'll Learn
Sutter Home's Marsala Wine is a type of fortified wine
Chicken Marsala is an Italian-American dish of golden pan-fried chicken cutlets and mushrooms in a rich Marsala wine sauce. Marsala wine is a type of fortified wine, which means a spirit—in this case, brandy—has been added to it. It is a rare find in most supermarkets and grocery stores, and you may have to visit a specialty liquor or wine store to find it. It is, however, worth the effort of seeking it out. Marsala wine gives Chicken Marsala its signature taste and is 100% worth adding to your pantry, according to one source.
Fortified wine has a high alcohol content due to the addition of a stronger spirit, which acts as a preservative and a source of flavor. Marsala wine, in particular, has a nutty, caramelized flavor when used in sauces. It is produced in Sicily and is best used in its authentic Italian dry form for Chicken Marsala, although semi-sweet and sweet varieties are also available.
If you are unable to get your hands on authentic Marsala wine, you can use other dry fortified wines as a replacement. Dry sherry, for example, makes a suitable alternative. However, it is important to remember that while these substitutes will work in a pinch, they will not produce the same distinctive flavor as Marsala wine.
Chicken Marsala is a versatile dish that pairs well with both light red and bold white wines. A bold white wine, such as Chenin Blanc or a blend of Chenin Blanc and Sémillon, is generally preferred. Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine, is also an excellent choice, although a dry variety is recommended over the sweet option.
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Chicken Marsala is an Italian-American dish
Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, with a high alcohol content due to the addition of a stronger spirit, likely brandy. It has a nutty, caramelized flavor when used in sauces. For Chicken Marsala, it is recommended to use either semi-secco (semi-sweet) or secco (dry) Marsala, but not sweet Marsala.
When it comes to pairing wine with Chicken Marsala, the dish sits at the cusp between red and white wine pairings, so a light red or a bold white wine would be suitable. A bold white wine is generally preferred, with Chenin blanc being a great choice due to its creamy mouthfeel. For a more affordable option, a blend of sémillon and chenin blanc, such as Catena's White Clay, can be chosen. Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine, is another recommended option, but it is important to choose a dry variety over the sweet options.
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Marsala wine is hard to find in some places
Chicken Marsala is a popular dish, but the key ingredient, Marsala wine, can be challenging to find in certain locations. Marsala is a fortified wine produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily. While it is a key ingredient in chicken Marsala, it also has multiple other applications in cooking and can even be sipped as a drink.
The challenge of finding Marsala wine in some places stems from several factors. Firstly, it is a specific type of wine with a distinct flavour, and as such, it may not be as widely available as other more common varieties of wine. While some larger wine stores may carry it, smaller grocery stores often have limited selections, and Marsala wine might not be a priority for them. This was evident in a personal account shared by a Reddit user, who could only find a single brand of Marsala wine in one of their two local grocery stores.
Secondly, the production and distribution of Marsala wine are relatively restricted compared to other wines. To be legally labelled as Marsala, the wine must be made in the northwest corner of Sicily using grapes indigenous to the region, primarily Grillo grapes. This limited production region and specific grape requirement contribute to the wine's exclusivity and potentially hinder its widespread availability.
Additionally, Marsala wine has a unique and complex winemaking process. It is fortified with brandy or a neutral grape spirit, and a cooked grape must called 'Mosto Cotto' is used to impart its characteristic colour and caramel flavour. This specialised production method may further limit its production and distribution, making it harder to find in certain areas.
Lastly, the perception and popularity of Marsala wine outside of Sicily play a role in its availability. While it gained popularity in England and other parts of Europe in the late 18th century, its popularity may have waned or become more niche over time. As consumer demand for a product often influences its distribution, lower demand in certain regions could result in reduced availability.
Despite the challenges of finding Marsala wine in some places, there are alternatives and substitutes that can be used in chicken Marsala and other recipes. Dry sherry, Madeira wine, or a mixture of brandy and white wine with brown sugar and salt are commonly suggested replacements. However, it is important to note that while these substitutes can work in a pinch, they will not provide the same unique flavour and character that authentic Marsala wine contributes to dishes like chicken Marsala.
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Dry Marsala wine is traditionally used for cooking
Chicken Marsala is an Italian-American dish of golden pan-fried chicken cutlets and mushrooms in a rich Marsala wine sauce. Marsala is a type of fortified wine, which means a spirit—in this case, brandy—has been added to it. It is traditionally made with dry wine, as Italian cuisine typically keeps sweet and savoury things separate.
Marsala wine is not always easy to find in supermarkets, and it can be hard to locate even in wine stores. It is worth seeking out Italian Marsala wine for your recipe, as California Marsala, for example, will not produce the same results. If you are unable to find dry Marsala, a dry sherry is the closest alternative.
Chicken Marsala combines chicken, mushrooms, Marsala wine, and cream into a savoury, rich dish. It sits on the cusp between red and white wine pairings, but a bold white wine is generally recommended to accompany the dish. A dry lambrusco, for example, would be a good choice.
When making Chicken Marsala, you will need to fry the chicken in butter, then set it aside. Fry the mushrooms in the same pan, then add the garlic and Marsala wine and let the sauce reduce. Finally, add the cream and return the chicken to the pan.
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Sweet Marsala wine is not recommended for Chicken Marsala
Chicken Marsala is an Italian-American dish of golden pan-fried chicken cutlets and mushrooms in a rich Marsala wine sauce. Marsala is a fortified wine, which means a spirit—in this case, brandy—has been added to it. It has a nutty, caramelized flavor when used in sauces.
While some Marsala wines have higher residual sugar and are sweet, it is not recommended to use a sweet variety when making Chicken Marsala. The dish is traditionally made with dry wine, as Italian cuisine typically keeps sweet and savory flavors separate. Using a sweet Marsala will not ruin the dish, but it is definitely not the original intended ingredient.
If you are unable to find dry Marsala wine, you can use a semi-sweet variety, but only if there is no alternative. You could also get both and have the sweet one as an aperitif or digestif. If you are looking for alternatives to Marsala wine altogether, dry sherry is a close replacement, as it has that fortified wine strength.
When serving Chicken Marsala, a bold white wine is often recommended to accompany the dish. A light red or sparkling red wine, such as Lambrusco, can also be a good pairing, but it is best to opt for a dry variety over a sweet one.
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