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Porcini Mushroom and Marsala Pan Sauce with Rosemary

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 2, 2012

Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 3/4 cup, enough to sauce 4 steaks)

Porcini Mushroom and Marsala Pan Sauce with Rosemary

Ingredients

½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms ½ cup hot water 2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)½ cup marsala wine (sweet)½ cup low-sodium chicken broth 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

Instructions

  1. Cover mushrooms with hot water in microwave-safe bowl; cover bowl with plastic wrap, cut vents in wrap, and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Let stand to soften mushrooms, about 5 minutes. Lift mushrooms from liquid with fork; chop coarse and set aside. Strain mushroom soaking liquid through sieve lined with coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove grit; reserve 1/3 cup strained liquid and set aside.
  2. Follow related recipe for. To same skillet used to cook steaks (do not clean skillet or discard accumulated fat), add garlic off heat; using pan’s residual heat, cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 15 to 20 seconds. Return skillet to high heat, add marsala, broth, chopped mushrooms, and reserved soaking liquid; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits on pan bottom with wooden spoon. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 3 minutes. Off heat, whisk in butter until melted and sauce is thickened and glossy. Add rosemary and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks; serve immediately.
Porcini Mushroom and Marsala Pan Sauce with Rosemary

Porcini Mushroom and Marsala Pan Sauce with Rosemary

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 3/4 cup, enough to sauce 4 steaks)

Ingredients

½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
½ cup hot water
2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
½ cup marsala wine (sweet)
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
½ cup hot water
2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
½ cup marsala wine (sweet)
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
½ cup hot water
2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
½ cup marsala wine (sweet)
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a pan-seared steak recipe with a full-bodied, complex steak sauce, we cooked the steaks in a high-quality, heavy pan, reducing the heat to prevent burning and moving the steaks only once. By adding a few extra ingredients to the traditional trio of wine or brandy, stock, and butter, we transformed canned stock into a luxurious, refined sauce for our meat.

Instructions

  1. Cover mushrooms with hot water in microwave-safe bowl; cover bowl with plastic wrap, cut vents in wrap, and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Let stand to soften mushrooms, about 5 minutes. Lift mushrooms from liquid with fork; chop coarse and set aside. Strain mushroom soaking liquid through sieve lined with coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove grit; reserve 1/3 cup strained liquid and set aside.
  2. Follow related recipe for. To same skillet used to cook steaks (do not clean skillet or discard accumulated fat), add garlic off heat; using pan’s residual heat, cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 15 to 20 seconds. Return skillet to high heat, add marsala, broth, chopped mushrooms, and reserved soaking liquid; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits on pan bottom with wooden spoon. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 3 minutes. Off heat, whisk in butter until melted and sauce is thickened and glossy. Add rosemary and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks; serve immediately.

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