What is Chicken Cacciatore?

• Cacciatore means "hunter’s style" in Italian and refers to the ingredients in the course. Recipes that call for red wine are typically from southern Italy, while those that include white wine are from the northern regions of the country. Perhaps the best part about chicken cacciatore is its versatility. Baby bella or crimini mushrooms, red wine vinegar and capers are just some of the extra ingredients you can add to change the flavor. The dish’s flexibility also means that you can change the kind of wine you use when preparing it. Sherry is a nice substitute for red wine because it’s a bold and flavorful red wine.

The Scoop on Sherry

• Originally from Spain, sherry is a fortified wine that is produced around the world today. It’s different than other wine because it has been fortified by brandy. Brandy is a type of liquor that is made by distilling grapes or other fruit. The added brandy helps to preserve the sherry while boosting its flavors. Fino sherry is lightly colored and delicate. It is much drier than its darker counterpart, Oloroso, which is aged longer and has a sweeter and more robust flavor.

Benefits of Using Sherry

• Recipes that include wine on the ingredient list call for either dry white wine or dry red wine. Despite misconceptions, sherry is also quite dry. Sherry displays complex flavors and can be enjoyed in dishes or alone. It imparts a roasted, nutty flavor to any entree to which it is added. The wine is hearty and makes a bold statement in heavy, meaty dishes such as chicken cacciatore. For northern Italian-style cacciatore, fino is a better substitute; however, for southern-style cacciatore, you can’t go wrong with Oloroso.

Cooking With Wine 101

• Although cooking sherry can be found in the aisles of every grocery store, steer clear of this salty, cheap substitute. Always cook with wine you would drink. In fact, if you use sherry in your chicken cacciatore, pair the same wine with your dessert to round out the meal. As for the alcohol content in cooked sherry, USDA studies have shown that wine retains about 85 percent of its alcohol when added to a boiling pot that is immediately removed from the heat. Only about 40 percent of the alcohol is present in a dish that is simmered for 15 minutes. The small amount of sherry used in chicken cacciatore means that very little alcohol will be consumed by each diner.