Can I Use Red Wine For The Marinade For Tequila Chicken?

Our answer

Nigella's Tequila And Lime Chicken (from SIMPLY NIGELLA) uses a margarita-inspired marinade made with lime juice and zest and tequila. The tequila doesn't add much flavour but a very slight sweetness against the sharpness of the lime and the heat of the chilli flakes. The marinade helps to make the chicken tender and flavourful.

We would not recommend using red wine for the marinade as it will significantly change the taste of the dish. Red wine will also tend to stain the skin of the chicken and leave it a reddish-brown colour. Vodka would be the best substitute as it has a similar alcohol level and it will not interfere with the other flavours in the marinade. If you have some red wine that you would like to use to cook with then we would suggest trying Nigella's Beef Stew With Anchovies and Thyme or Lentils Braised In Red Wine. Both are gently cooked, delicious dishes that benefit from the rounded flavour of red wine.