Chicken Marsala

This dish is actually a take on the Italian classic, Veal Marsala. Chicken is a cheaper choice of meat as well as readily available in super markets. Marsala is a fortified wine, meaning they alcohol to it, usually brandy. It has  a distinct flavor and other wines should not be used in it's place. If you don't have, or don't want to purchase chicken cutlets, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Butterfly the breast then cut in half. Pound each slice to about a 1/4 inch thick.

Ingredients

4 chicken cutlets

2 small containers of sliced fresh baby bella mushrooms

3-4 c Marsala wine

2 tbs butter

4 tbs olive oil

3 tbs flour plus more for dredging

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 c chicken stock

1 lb spaghetti

In a large pot melt the butter along with 1 tbs olive oil. Sautee the garlic till fragment, about 30 seconds, then add in both containers of mushrooms and sauté for a few minutes more. Sprinkle with 3 tbs flour, stir and cook for another minute. Add in 2 cups marsala wine and the chicken stock. Bring to a roiling boil over high heat. Boil for 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken and reduce slightly. Keep covered over low heat until ready to use.

Meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta about 7-10 minutes or until al dente.

About half way through cooking the pasta, add the remaining 3 tbs olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Season the cutlets with salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Sautee the cutlets quickly, about 3 minutes per side. Add in the remaining 1-2 c marsala wine. You want the wine to come about ½ way up the chicken. Turn heat to high and boil till ready to serve. This allows the wine to reduce and also flavor the chicken.

Drain the pasta and return back to the pot. Add in all but ½ c of the mushroom sauce that you were keeping warm, and toss it with the spaghetti. Place the spaghetti in a large deep serving platter. Arrange the chicken on top and pour the wine over it all. Pour the reserved mushroom sauce over the chicken and serve.  Serve it with a tossed salad.

H A P P Y  C O O K I N G !!