Chicken Marsala, from Gael

Chicken Marsala, from Gael

Recipe is from this Web site.

Adapted from a recipe in Gourmet Magazine

1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (14 fl oz)

2 tbsp finely chopped shallot (or white onion)

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 big clove garlic, minced

12 oz mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced (I used a mix of cremini and shitake)

1 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh sage

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (1/2 lb each)

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry Marsala wine

1/2 cup heavy cream (or half and half)

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

More fresh, chopped sage and some chives for garnish

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Bring broth to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan over high heat, then boil, uncovered, until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 15-20 minutes.

Cook the shallots (or diced onion) in 2 tablespoons butter in a big, heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until shallot begins to turn golden, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms, garlic, 1 teaspoon of the sage, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated and mushrooms begin to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set mushrooms aside in a bowl. You’ll reuse the big skillet to cook the chicken — don’t bother wiping it out.

Put flour in a wide shallow bowl. Gently pound chicken to 1/4 inch thick between 2 sheets of plastic wrap using the flat side of a meat pounder or a rolling pin. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour, 1 piece at a time, shaking off excess.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the skillet over moderately high heat and sauté chicken, (in batches, if needed) turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, about 4-6 minutes total. Transfer cooked chicken to a baking sheet, arranging in 1 layer, then put in the oven to keep warm.

Add 1/2 cup marsala wine to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, about 30 seconds. Add reduced broth, cream, and mushrooms, then simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons wine and 1/2 teaspoon sage.

Add chicken back to pan to coat in sauce. Serve over pasta, giving it all a quick squirt of lemon juice (about a teaspoon’s worth) before serving. Garnish with fresh sage and chopped chives.