Chicken marsala is a classic Italian dish made with chicken, mushrooms, and marsala wine sauce. It’s a flavorful combination that’s popular on restaurant menus and in home kitchens. But if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, you may wonder: Does chicken marsala contain dairy?
The Short Answer
Traditional chicken marsala recipes do contain some dairy ingredients. The sauce is made with butter and/or cream, which are dairy products. However, there are options for making dairy-free chicken marsala by using oil and non-dairy milk or cream substitutes.
Examining the Traditional Ingredients
To understand whether traditional chicken marsala contains dairy, let’s look at the key ingredients that make up this dish:
- Chicken – The chicken itself does not contain dairy.
- Mushrooms – Mushrooms do not naturally contain dairy.
- Marsala wine – Marsala wine is made from grapes and does not contain dairy.
- Butter – Butter is made from milk or cream, so it does contain dairy.
- Olive oil or vegetable oil – Plain oils do not contain dairy.
- All-purpose flour – Plain flour does not contain dairy.
- Chicken broth – Chicken broth is made from chicken and water, so it’s dairy-free.
- Garlic – Garlic does not contain dairy.
- Onion – Onions do not contain dairy.
- Parsley – Parsley does not contain dairy.
- Salt and pepper – Plain salt and pepper do not contain dairy.
- Cream – Heavy cream or half-and-half are dairy products.
By looking at the classic chicken marsala ingredients, we can see that the dairy products used are typically butter and sometimes cream. All the other components – the chicken, mushrooms, marsala wine, vegetables, and seasonings – do not naturally contain dairy.
Purpose of Dairy in Chicken Marsala
So why is dairy used in chicken marsala in the first place? Let’s look at the role that butter and cream play in this dish:
- Butter – Butter is traditionally used to sauté the mushrooms and chicken. It provides richness of flavor and helps brown the food. Butter also thickens the sauce slightly.
- Cream – Heavy cream or half-and-half are sometimes stirred in at the end of cooking to make the marsala sauce more luxurious, silky, and rich. The cream adds body and a smooth texture.
The dairy ingredients are certainly not essential, but they do enhance the classic flavor, texture, and appearance of chicken marsala. When cooked correctly, the butter and cream make the sauce velvety and delicious.
Options for Making Dairy-Free Chicken Marsala
If you want to enjoy chicken marsala but avoid dairy products, there are several suitable ingredient substitutions you can make:
- Use olive oil or vegetable oil instead of butter for sautéing.
- Use chicken or vegetable broth rather than cream to add liquid and body to the sauce.
- Use coconut cream or cashew cream instead of traditional dairy cream.
- Use plain non-dairy milk like almond milk, soy milk, etc. in place of cream.
- Use dairy-free butter spreads made from plant oils instead of regular butter.
Making these simple substitutions allows you to stick close to the traditional chicken marsala recipe while leaving out the dairy components. You still end up with tender chicken and mushrooms in a rich, savory wine sauce.
Dairy-Free Chicken Marsala Recipe
To give you an idea of how you can make dairy-free chicken marsala, here is one recipe approach:
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup marsala wine
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even 1/2 inch thickness.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until browned.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Add the mushrooms to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes until they are softened and browned.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously.
- Pour in the marsala wine and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer.
- Return the chicken to the pan along with any juices. Simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- If the sauce appears too thin, dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water and stir into the pan juices to thicken.
- Off heat, stir in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve the chicken marsala topped with the mushroom sauce. Enjoy!
As you can see, with just a handful of easy dairy-free ingredient swaps, you can prepare chicken marsala at home that’s just as delicious as the traditional. The mushrooms, garlic, and marsala wine still lend plenty of flavor.
Common Questions
Isn’t chicken marsala always made with cream?
No, not necessarily. While some recipes do call for adding cream or half-and-half at the end, it’s not a hard requirement for chicken marsala. The sauce gets plenty rich from reduced marsala wine and butter. So if you want to leave out dairy altogether, the dish still works fine without cream.
Can I make chicken marsala sauce from pre-made base?
There are some pre-made and jarred chicken marsala cooking sauces available in grocery stores. However, you’ll want to read the ingredients carefully, as many brands still contain dairy products like cheese, sour cream, or cream. Your safest bet for dairy-free chicken marsala is to make your own sauce from scratch, subbing in non-dairy ingredients as desired.
Is sweet marsala wine dairy-free?
Yes, marsala wine itself is dairy-free, even sweet variations like Marsala Dolce. True marsala wine is made solely from grapes and contains no dairy. It’s simply a fortified wine that originates from Sicily. Don’t confuse marsala cooking wine with pre-made marsala sauce that may have added cream or butter.
Can I use regular wine instead of marsala?
It’s best to use an authentic marsala wine to get the right flavor profile in chicken marsala. However, in a pinch you could substitute a dry white wine like a chardonnay or pinot grigio. The taste won’t be quite the same but it will work. Just avoid sweet wines which would overwhelm the other flavors. Sherry is also an acceptable marsala wine substitute.
Key Takeaways
- Traditional chicken marsala recipes contain dairy ingredients like butter and cream.
- However, butter and cream can be replaced with oil, broth, coconut cream, etc.
- Making simple substitutions allows you to create dairy-free chicken marsala.
- The mushrooms, garlic, marsala wine, and chicken still provide plenty of flavor without dairy.
- Be sure to check ingredient labels carefully on pre-made cooking sauces for hidden dairy.
- Marsala wine itself contains no dairy and is safe for dairy-free diets.
The Bottom Line
Chicken marsala is a delicious dish that traditionally relies on butter and/or cream to enrich the sauce. But by swapping in vegetable broth, olive oil, coconut milk, and other dairy-free ingredients, you can prepare a tasty version of this classic without the dairy. With just a few tweaks, you can still enjoy the wonderful flavors of chicken, mushrooms, and marsala wine.
