What the Heck is Alcohol Free Chicken Marsala?
Following up on my last post about Chef Liz Scott’s incredible cookbook The Sober Kitchen, I’m excited to share one of her most beloved recipes: Chicken with Mock Marsala Sauce.
This dish takes the heart of a classic Italian favorite and transforms it into an alcohol-free version that delivers rich, satisfying flavor without compromise. Unsurprisingly, this recipe ranks among the most frequently requested on my site.
Chef Liz Scott, a professionally trained chef and caterer, has dedicated her career to creating nourishing meals for those in recovery from illness, disease, or substance dependence. After graduating from The French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) in New York City, she used her culinary training to support people healing from addiction and health challenges. She combines nutrition and comfort, crafting restorative and delicious recipes.
In this dish, she replaces traditional Marsala wine with a carefully balanced, non-alcoholic alternative that brings depth and warmth to the sauce. Whether you’re in recovery, cooking for someone who is, or simply looking to reduce alcohol in your meals, this version of Chicken Marsala makes a thoughtful and flavorful choice.
Let’s dive into the recipe and see how she brings it to life.
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
- Melt the butter in the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet.
- 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, then stir in the vanilla and taste for seasoning.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.
3 Responses
Delicious. I am going to try this.
its a great recipe can’t wait to try it.write more ideals.
Sounds good. Going to add some mushrooms and onions to it.