Chicken Lombardy over Angel Hair

... with cheese, again?

I cannot imaging not having Marsala to cook with and aid in recipes. I just love the taste and use it many times, even when a recipe might call for something else. It just depends on the ingredients and how I want the outcome to be. Sometimes though, even with the best planning, I run out of my 'basic' ingredients.

A decent substitution for Marsala, even though the taste will not be the same, is to, as in this recipe, use 2/3 cup of white wine with 1 tablespoon brandy. It will get you through a recipe.

Now, this way of preparing chicken is favored in many southern homes along the coast. Thin cutlets of chicken, quick fried in butter and served with a delicate mushroom Marsala stock pairs with the nutty taste of, as in this case, butter and Fontina cheese. Normally served with white rice, I wanted to make it this time over sauce-laden angel hair. Here's how I did it. Enjoy!


Chicken Lombardy over Angel Hair
serves about 4

4 skinless, boned chicken breasts
All purpose flour
1 cup butter (I used margarine)
Sea salt, black pepper and cayenne
8 oz thinly sliced button mushrooms
3/4 cup Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup shredded Fontina cheese (Mozzarella will do)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons AP flour
1 tablespoon softened butter

Slice each breast in half horizontally. Using a mallet, pound each piece as thin as possible, to about 1/8 inch thickness. (An 8-inch flat-bottomed iron skillet works in a pinch) Cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Lightly season with salt, pepper and cayenne. Dredge the chicken in flour lightly covering both sides.

Place about 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken pieces about 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Do not crowd the pan. Remove to a 3-quart oblong casserole dish.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Add more butter to the skillet making about 2 tablespoons. Sauté over medium high heat the mushrooms until tender. Drain and sprinkle over the chicken. Add the wine and chicken stock, bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally to loosen up any brown bits on the bottom.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix the 2 tablespoons of flour with 1 tablespoon of softened butter to form a paste (
beurre manié). Stir half teaspoon at a time into the sauce to thicken. Pour about half of the sauce evenly over the chicken.

Cook the angel hair in salted boiling water al dente, about 2 minutes.

Combine the cheeses and sprinkle over the chicken dish. Bake about 12 minutes or until bubbly and if needed, run under a broiler a couple of minutes to lightly brown.

Toss the drained pasta with the remaining sauce and plate with the Chicken Lombardy on top. Serve with crusty French bread and a side vegetable if desired.

Comments

  1. Yum. What a fabulous recipe, Drick!

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  2. Sounds very tasty! Curious to know where it got the name Lombardy...

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  3. @Frank - I know you already know the answer - that same northern region in Italy where butter and cheese melds so well with tender Milanese-style cutlets. I did find out the Italians brought over a recipe similar which mingled into the Creole cookery about 250 years ago...

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  4. This sounds fanstastic. I like the tip about using white wine and brandy to sub for marsala--thanks!

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  5. great tip for a sub for marsala...I always seem to have brandy and white wine on hand, instead of marsala...more cheese, yes always..yum..great recipe

    sweetlife

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  6. I am sitting in Arizona wishing your kitchen was next door. That sounds like a fabulous meal.

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  7. Fabulous my friend love everything in here especially Marsala~

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  8. Looks fantastic...and ingenious substitution here for marsala :) And I love that you used fontina, what flavor...

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  9. Your food always looks and sounds fantastic! I have to tease - 1 cup of butter? :)

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  10. Okay, you have convinced me. I will by a bottle of Marsala. I've been putting it off for a while, but now I see what I am missing. Great recipe, my friend!

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  11. Wow, this does look rich and flavorful, just delicious over angel hair pasta:)

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  12. So yummy with Fontina cheese!

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  13. I love angel hair and cook it very often. But love yours with the wine and cheese there. Would love to try. I should add more wine to keep me warm :D

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  14. Fantastic dish Drick! I may need to make this for the old man for dinner some night soon.

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