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Steak Marsala

By Heather Tolmie

Published on December 14, 2018

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Steak Marsala

Ingredients

1 cup chicken broth ½ ounces dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil 12 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thinSalt and pepper 4 (6-ounce) top sirloin steaks, trimmed1 shallot, minced1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 3 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon sweet Marsala 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and chilled1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Before You Begin

For a nonalcoholic version of this recipe, substitute an additional ¾ cup of chicken broth for the Marsala in step 4 and omit the 1 tablespoon of Marsala in step 5.

Instructions

  1. Microwave ½ cup broth and porcini mushrooms in covered bowl until steaming, about 1 minute. Let sit until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain porcini mushrooms in fine-mesh strainer lined with coffee filter, reserve liquid, and chop porcini mushrooms fine.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add cremini mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, covered, until mushrooms release their liquid, about 3 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are well browned, about 8 minutes longer. Transfer to bowl; cover to keep warm.
  3. Pat steaks dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet and heat over medium heat until just smoking. Add steaks and cook until well browned on first side, about 4 minutes. Flip steaks and cook until well browned on second side and meat registers 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer steaks to carving board and tent with aluminum foil.
  4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shallot, flour, garlic, rosemary, porcini mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until shallot is beginning to soften, about 1 minute. Stir in ¾ cup Marsala, reserved porcini mushroom soaking liquid, and remaining ½ cup broth. Cook until reduced to 1 cup and slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. Reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, until emulsified. Stir in parsley, lemon juice, cremini mushrooms, and remaining 1 tablespoon Marsala. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice steaks thin and transfer to warm platter. Spoon sauce over steaks and serve.
Steak Marsala
Photography by Keller + Keller. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Steak Marsala

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Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 cup chicken broth
½ ounces dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
Salt and pepper
4 (6-ounce) top sirloin steaks, trimmed
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon sweet Marsala
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and chilled
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 cup chicken broth
½ ounces dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
Salt and pepper
4 (6-ounce) top sirloin steaks, trimmed
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon sweet Marsala
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and chilled
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 cup chicken broth
½ ounces dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
Salt and pepper
4 (6-ounce) top sirloin steaks, trimmed
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon sweet Marsala
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and chilled
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For our steak Marsala, we set out to create an immensely doable, foolproof recipe that paired full-flavored beef and mushrooms with a perfectly complementary rich wine sauce. After testing all the readily available cuts of steak, we chose top sirloin for its unique combination of tenderness, affordability, and meatiness. To amplify the savoriness of the cremini mushrooms, we added rehydrated dried porcini mushrooms, which contributed a deep complexity. A healthy dose of sweet Marsala provided the perfect amount of deep smokiness to the sauce, and butter, lemon, and parsley rounded out the flavors.

Before You Begin

For a nonalcoholic version of this recipe, substitute an additional ¾ cup of chicken broth for the Marsala in step 4 and omit the 1 tablespoon of Marsala in step 5.

Instructions

  1. Microwave ½ cup broth and porcini mushrooms in covered bowl until steaming, about 1 minute. Let sit until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain porcini mushrooms in fine-mesh strainer lined with coffee filter, reserve liquid, and chop porcini mushrooms fine.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add cremini mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, covered, until mushrooms release their liquid, about 3 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are well browned, about 8 minutes longer. Transfer to bowl; cover to keep warm.
  3. Pat steaks dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet and heat over medium heat until just smoking. Add steaks and cook until well browned on first side, about 4 minutes. Flip steaks and cook until well browned on second side and meat registers 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer steaks to carving board and tent with aluminum foil.
  4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shallot, flour, garlic, rosemary, porcini mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until shallot is beginning to soften, about 1 minute. Stir in ¾ cup Marsala, reserved porcini mushroom soaking liquid, and remaining ½ cup broth. Cook until reduced to 1 cup and slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. Reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, until emulsified. Stir in parsley, lemon juice, cremini mushrooms, and remaining 1 tablespoon Marsala. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice steaks thin and transfer to warm platter. Spoon sauce over steaks and serve.

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