Chicken in Sherry Sauce

Chicken in Sherry Sauce is a simple dish for a special weekday meal.

Chicken in Sherry Sauce

This recipe is essentially fried chicken and mushrooms with a rather splendid sherry and cream sauce.

I don't have any sherry!

If you don't have any sherry you could use dry vermouth - or even brandy. It just adds a bit of piquancy. If all else fails, or you want to avoid alcohol (although the alcohol itself will have boiled off), add about 20ml lemon or lime juice instead.

What if the sauce is lumpy?

Well yes, sadly, mine was. Sometimes it happens. I probably added the liquid too quickly, but anyway it isn't a problem. Or rather it is a problem but there is a solution and that is to whisk it. You can use any sort of hand whisk - although in a frying pan I use a coil whisk. Or you could just use a stick blender, which is a lifesaver (well, dinner-saver) in many situations.

Avoid soggy mushrooms

One of Juia Child's favourite sayings is Don't crowd the mushrooms. This is all you need to remember about frying mushrooms. They need plenty of space. If you have too many for your frying pan, then cook them in batches.

The other point to remember is that you need the pan to be fairly hot. I often cook mushrooms on the highest heat on my hob (only because I'm impatient), but if you don't watch them they will burn so hot, but not very hot is best.

Helpful Tools

• Splash screen - Reduces fat splashes when you're frying the chicken. Wash in the dishwasher for least effort!
• Zeal Coil Whisk - This little whisk is perfect for whisking in a frying pan - or any shallow pan. It's non-stick so it doesn't scratch the pan and when you're done, just put it in the dishwasher.

If you like this...

...Why don’t you try:

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Chicken Chasseur, or Hunter's Chicken - chicken joints with sausage, bacon and mushroom makes a warming family supper.

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Creamy Chicken Risotto

Creamy Chicken Risotto is an excellent way to use up what's left from a roast.

Recipe

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Chicken in Sherry Sauce

Chicken in Sherry Sauce is a simple dish for a special weekday meal.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: British

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Susie@Everyday Cooks

Ingredients

• 300 ml chicken stock
• 2 cloves garlic
• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon oil (15ml)
• 50 g butter, divided
• 125 g button mushrooms
• 25 g flour
• 50 ml sherry, any kind
• 150 ml double cream
• 1 teaspoon Worcester sauce (5ml)
• Salt
• Freshly ground pepper

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Equipment

Large frying pan

Instructions

For the chicken:

• Put the stock on to heat - in a pan or the microwave
• Peel the garlic and crush or finely chop
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan on MEDIUM
• Add half the butter and when it's melted, add the chicken breasts
• Fry for 25-30 minutes, turning occasionally.

  Larger chicken breasts will need longer
• The chicken is cooked when the juices run clear when pierced in the thickest part by a sharp knife
• Remove the chicken and keep warm in the serving dish
• Add the rest of the butter and fry the mushrooms in the pan for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally
• Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes
• Remove the mushrooms and garlic to a separate dish

For the sauce:

• Add the flour to the fat in the pan and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes
• Add the sherry and stock to the pan gradually, stirring all the time

  If the sauce is lumpy whisk with a coil whisk or a stick blender
• Reduce the heat to LOW and add the cream and Worcester sauce.

  Make sure the sauce has stopped boiling or the cream may curdle
• Add the mushrooms to the sauce and heat through without boiling
• Add salt and pepper to taste
• Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.