Marsala For Beef Stew With Anchovies And Thyme

Our answer

Nigella's Beef Stew With Anchovies And Thyme (from HOW TO EAT is a slowly cooked stew. The anchovies may seem odd but they melt down to add a savouriness to the sauce.

The sauce itself is made up of red wine, beef stock and marsala. This is marsala wine (with an extra "r"), rather than the spice mixture masala. Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily and has nutty, slightly caramel notes. It is useful in cooking to add an extra depth of flavour and as the wine is fortified it can last for some time after opening, so it is a good standby to have in the kitchen. Try to look for a dry (secco) marsala for cooking. If you can't find marsala then a dry Madeira is a good alternative.