What the Heck is Mock Chicken Marsala?
As a follow up to my last post about Chef Liz Scott's incredible cookbook, The Sober Kitchen, I want to share with you her recipe for Chicken with Mock Marsala Sauce.
As one of the most popular and frequently requested recipes on my site, Chef Scott takes this classic Italian recipe and provides you a alcohol free version that should satisfy anyone who tries it.
Chef Scott is a professional chef and caterer who specialize in preparing foods rich in nutritional needs for anyone recovering from illness and disease including alcohol and drug dependence. As a graduate of The French Culinary Institute, now called the International Culinary Center, in New York City, she has focused her talents by helping others in recovery.
Chicken Mock Marsala from The Sober Kitchen
Chicken and Veal Marsala are typically made with the fortified wine, Marsala, combined with chicken or veal stock and reduced to a pan sauce. Sometimes mushrooms and cream are also added.
You can see another version for Chicken Marsala with the classic wine on my web site. I even wrote an ecookbook called Chicken Marsala Perfected with the help of my friend Chef Ricco. It is more than a recipe but a cooking lesson for sautéing and making pan sauces.
Marsala Free Chicken Marsala
For Chef Scott to make a "Marsala free" version, she needed to find a way to substitute ingredients that would replicate the flavor provided by Marsala wine as well as thicken the sauce.
A combination of white grape juice and sherry vinegar is "a standard wine substitution" and "with a dark, full-flavored broth, you'll get the consistency and color".
She then added a little vanilla to "wake up the sauce". Combined, these ingredients will make a delicious mock Marsala sauce that will have your family and friends guessing what are the ingredients.
Chef Scott's cookbook, The Sober Kitchen is filled with creative ideas like this. I have been reading her book for the past few days and am amazed at how much I am learning about nutrition and how my diet affects my personality.
Liz doesn't come across as one of those boring experts. Just the opposite, her writing is very conversational and filled with simple suggestions that have me thinking about food in a new way.
Here's her recipe for Mock Chicken Marsala. Chef Scott says if you are going to add mushrooms, "brown them quickly in the pan after you remove the chicken fillets and before you add the juice and stock." Be sure to slice the mushrooms thin.
Mock Chicken Marsala Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 pound thin-cut chicken breast fillets
- salt and pepper to taste
- all-purpose flour for dredging
- ½ cup beef broth or veal stock, low-sodium
- ¼ cup white grape juice
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract nonalcoholic
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter in the oil over medium heat.
- Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper and lightly dredge in flour, tapping off any excess.
- Fry the fillets, without crowding, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a warm platter and set aside.
- Add the broth, grape juice, and vinegar to the skillet, increase the heat to high, and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Cook until the liquid has reduced by half, than stir in the vanilla and taste for seasoning.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.
Amar
Delicious. I am going to try this.
mwita mwanza
its a great recipe can't wait to try it.write more ideals.
Herby
Sounds good. Going to add some mushrooms and onions to it.