Carrabba’s Italian Grill is a popular Italian-American restaurant chain that is known for its wood-fired cuisine. One of the signature drinks at Carrabba’s is the Marsala wine that is used in many of their dishes and desserts. Marsala wine is a fortified wine that originated in Sicily and comes in several styles, from dry to sweet. Determining what type of Marsala wine Carrabba’s uses can give insight into the flavor profile they aim for in their recipes.
Marsala Wine Overview
Marsala is a fortified wine that gets its name from the city of Marsala in Sicily where it originated in the 18th century. The wine is made from white grapes, either Catarratto, Inzolia or Damaschino, and then fortified with brandy or a grape spirit to increase the alcohol content. This fortification process makes Marsala a sweet and rich wine.
There are four main types of Marsala wine that range in sweetness and color:
Secco
Secco is a dry Marsala with an alcohol content around 17%. It has a light amber color and crisp flavor profile. Secco Marsala provides an aromatic, nutty taste.
Semisecco
As a medium dry style, semisecco Marsala contains about 15-17% alcohol. It has an amber color and mildly sweet profile with almond and caramel notes.
Sweet
The sweet style of Marsala is dark and rich with a sweetness level similar to port. It contains 15-20% alcohol and has a deep amber color. Sweet Marsala is smooth and velvety with dried fruit flavors.
Vergine/Fine
Vergine Marsala is the lightest, driest style. It is sometimes labeled as “Fine”. Vergine contains about 17% alcohol and has a light golden color. Its dry taste provides refreshing citrus and nutty notes.
This range in Marsala types from dry to sweet allows cooks to pick a style suited for the particular dish they are making. The sweeter styles work well in rich sauces or desserts, while dry Marsalas add flavor without too much sweetness.
How Carrabba’s Uses Marsala
At Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Marsala wine is an integral ingredient used to enhance the flavor of several of their classic Italian dishes and desserts. Here is an overview of some ways Marsala wine appears on the Carrabba’s menu:
Chicken Marsala
Chicken marsala is a Carrabba’s specialty. It features chicken breasts sautéed with mushrooms in a Marsala wine sauce. The rich, savory sauce is a hallmark of the dish. The Marsala provides a touch of sweetness to balance the earthy mushrooms and tender chicken.
Marsala Sauce
In addition to chicken marsala, Carrabba’s uses Marsala wine to craft other Marsala pan sauces. These feature the same sweet Marsala profile but pair it with different main ingredients like steak or grilled pork chops. The Marsala sauce is thick and flavorful, coating the meat.
Tiramisu
Carrabba’s tiramisu showcases Marsala wine in the dessert course. The Marsala-soaked ladyfingers provide a sweet crunch beneath layers of creamy mascarpone. The wine’s caramel and vanilla notes come through to accent the rich coffee and chocolate flavors.
Other Desserts
Marsala also makes an appearance in other Carrabba’s desserts such as their zabaglione. This light Italian custard is spiked with Marsala to provide depth of flavor and a delicate sweetness. It’s a classic way to highlight the wine’s flavors in a dessert.
Carrabba’s Uses a Sweet Marsala Wine
Based on its uses in Carrabba’s recipes, it appears Carrabba’s relies on a sweet style of Marsala wine.
The richness and sweet intensity needed for desserts like tiramisu and zabaglione point to the use of a sweet Marsala rather than a dry one. The sweetness provides flavor and moisture to balance the other ingredients.
Likewise, in entrees like the chicken marsala, a sweet Marsala would make the most sense. The concentrated sweetness of a sweet Marsala balances beautifully with the earthy mushrooms and juicy chicken. The flavor profile would be lacking if they used a dry secco Marsala.
A semi-sweet Marsala could potentially work for Carrabba’s recipes instead of a full sweet style. The semi-sweet offers moderate sweetness along with flavor depth. However, a true sweet Marsala likely maximizes the flavor they are looking for.
Comparing to Other Italian Restaurants
We can verify that a sweet style of Marsala is standard for Carrabba’s recipes by looking at what other popular Italian chains use:
Olive Garden
Like Carrabba’s, Olive Garden offers classic chicken marsala on their menu. Their recipe also calls for a sweet Marsala wine to give the dish the right flavor.
Maggiano’s
For more evidence, the chicken marsala at Maggiano’s Little Italy is made with a Sicilian marsala wine that has a deliciously sweet profile.
Buca di Beppo
chicken marsala. Their recipe uses an Italian vin cotto or cooked wine, which provides the same rich sweetness that a sweet Marsala would offer.
| Restaurant | Marsala Wine Used |
|---|---|
| Carrabba’s | Sweet Marsala |
| Olive Garden | Sweet Marsala |
| Maggiano’s Little Italy | Sweet Sicilian Marsala |
| Buca di Beppo | Vin Cotto (sweet cooked wine) |
Based on this comparison, the standard for Italian restaurant chains is to use a sweet style of Marsala wine to achieve the right flavor in their Marsala sauce dishes. Carrabba’s follows suit with this traditional preparation.
Marsala Wine Options
To replicate the Carrabba’s recipe at home, you’ll want to select a high-quality sweet Marsala wine. Here are some recommended options that provide the rich sweetness needed:
Florio Sweet Marsala
Florio is a traditional Sicilian Marsala producer that makes a rich, smooth sweet Marsala. It has deep flavors of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit.
Cantine Florio Targa Riserva 1840
This Marsala is aged for at least 40 years gaining complexity while maintaining sweetness. It has a velvety mouthfeel with nutty almond notes.
Sweet Marsala Vergine Stravecchio Sperl Santo
From Pellegrino, this Marsala has intense dried fruit sweetness along with aromas of apricot, cocoa, and spice. The long aging gives it a complex profile.
Carlo Alberto Sweet Marsala
An affordably priced option, Carlo Alberto delivers rich sweetness with flavors of chocolate, roasted nuts, and fig.
Leone Sweet Marsala
Leone ages their Marsala in oak casks for at least four years gaining character while keeping a smooth sippability.
| Brand | Style | Tasting Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Florio | Sweet | Caramel, vanilla, dried fruit |
| Cantine Florio Targa Riserva | Sweet | Velvety, nutty almond |
| Sperl Santo | Sweet Vergine | Intense dried fruit, apricot, cocoa |
| Carlo Alberto | Sweet | Chocolate, roasted nuts, fig |
| Leone | Sweet | Smooth, oak-aged |
Any of these high quality sweet Marsala wines can provide the right flavor for Marsala-based recipes like Carrabba’s chicken marsala. Look for options that are aged over 10 years for the most complexity.
How to Cook with Marsala
Marsala is a very versatile ingredient in cooking. Here are some tips for incorporating it into your recipes:
Deglazing
Add Marsala when deglazing pans to pull up browned bits. The wine adds rich flavor to sauces and gravies.
Marinades
Use Marsala to marinate meats like chicken or pork before grilling or roasting. It infuses a sweet, complex flavor.
Reduction Sauces
Simmer Marsala down into a thick, syrupy reduction to top meats or desserts.
Risottos
Stir Marsala into risottos just before serving to add an aromatic flavor punch.
Dessert Soaking
Soak sponge cakes or ladyfingers in Marsala to moisten them for tiramisu, trifles, or other desserts.
Zabaglione
Whip Marsala into egg yolks and sugar when making the Italian custard zabaglione.
With a good sweet Marsala wine on hand, you can experiment with new ways to use it in both savory dishes and desserts.
Marsala Wine Substitutes
If you don’t have access to Marsala wine, here are some possible substitutes:
Sherry
Both Marsala and Sherry are fortified wines, so Sherry can replace Marsala in recipes as its closest match. Use a cream sherry for a sweet Marsala substitute.
White Wine + Sugar
Approximate Marsala’s flavor by combining an off-dry white wine like Gewurztraminer with a bit of sugar or honey. Add 1-2 teaspoons sugar per 1/4 cup of white wine.
Grape Juice + Wine Vinegar
For a non-alcoholic option, use grape juice diluted with a splash of red wine vinegar to mimic Marsala’s sweet-tart flavor.
Chicken or Vegetable Broth
In savory dishes, you can skip the wine and use chicken or veggie broth as the liquid instead. It won’t have the same depth but provides moisture.
Sweet Vermouth
Sweet vermouth makes a good flavor match as another sweet, aromatic fortified wine. It brings a similar richness and toasted notes.
While these substitutes can work, ideally use an actual Marsala wine to fully replicate the Carrabba’s recipes. The complexity of a good Marsala is hard to duplicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marsala wine sweet or dry?
Marsala wine comes in both sweet and dry styles ranging from very sweet to very dry. The most common varieties are sweet, semi-sweet, and dry.
What can you use instead of Marsala wine?
Some substitutes for Marsala wine include sherry, sweet vermouth, white wine with sugar added, grape juice with vinegar, or chicken broth.
What is the difference between Marsala and cooking wine?
Marsala is a high-quality fortified wine while cooking wine is a low-alcohol wine flavored with salt and preservatives. Marsala has a complex flavor while cooking wine tastes salty and acidic.
Is sweet Marsala wine good for cooking?
Yes, sweet Marsala wine is very good for cooking. Its rich sweetness balances well with meats and mushrooms in savory dishes like chicken marsala. Sweet Marsala also enhances desserts like tiramisu.
Can I use dry Marsala for cooking?
Dry Marsala can be used in some recipes but typically a sweet Marsala is better for most cooking applications. Dry Marsala provides a crisper, nuttier flavor that may get lost with richer ingredients.
Conclusion
In summary, the recipes at Carrabba’s Italian Grill feature Marsala wine prominently as both an ingredient and flavor inspiration. Specifically, Carrabba’s uses a high quality sweet Marsala wine in dishes like their chicken marsala and Marsala sauce entrees along with Marsala-infused desserts. This allows them to achieve the rich, sweet flavor profile they want.
Home cooks can recreate the Carrabba’s experience by choosing a good Sicilian sweet Marsala wine aged for complexity. Popular brand options include Florio, Cantine Florio, Sperl Santo, Carlo Alberto, or Leone. With the right sweet Marsala on hand, you can start elevating your own Italian cooking and desserts.