Creamy Peppercorn Sauce for Steak
This recipe will be your go-to sauce for steak or chicken.
You can also pour it over portobello mushrooms or have it as a dip for fries. 😋
A classic steak sauce is made with black peppercorns, cream and brandy and makes a rich and delicious sauce that's perfect for a date night or a special occasion.
Can you make peppercorn sauce without alcohol?
Yes, brandy adds a nice kick to the sauce but it isn't vital, but you can leave it out.
I had a bottle in the cupboard but there's no need to go out and buy a bottle just to use 3 tablespoons!
Peppercorn sauce ingredients
- 10g unsalted butter
- 3 shallots - peeled and very finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons brandy
- 1½ tablespoons of whole black peppercorns - crushed with a pestle and mortar
- 1 x Knorr Rich Beef stock pot - the one with onion and thyme dissolved in 300ml of hot water (although you will only need 200ml for the recipe) the dilution in 300ml is just to get the taste right.
- 80ml double cream (heavy)
No flour or cornstarch is needed as it thickens nicely by itself after a little simmering.
It's important to crush the peppercorns in a pestle and mortar or put them in a zip-lock bag and use something bashable to crush them otherwise someone will take a tooth out!
How to make peppercorn sauce
Heat the butter in a frying pan and add the shallots. Cook whilst stirring over medium heat until soft but not coloured.
Now add the peppercorns and the brandy, and turn the heat up.
Technically you're supposed to set fire to the brandy in order to remove the alcohol - but I'm not performing that trick in my ever so tiny kitchen thank you very much! 🔥 😱
Cook until the liquid has almost gone - about 3 minutes.
Add 200ml of the stock, and keep the heat on medium-high.
Cook until the stock has reduced by two-thirds.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool before stirring in the cream - this is to stop the sauce from curdling.
Cook for a couple of minutes or so until the sauce has thickened, darkened and is heated through.
Serve poured over steak or on the side.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes, you can but you must allow the sauce to cool completely. Once cool, store it in a suitable airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
Reheat over a low heat, stirring until piping hot.
Another recipe you might like is blue cheese sauce for steak.
Recipe Top Tips!
Shallots
You can also use finely chopped red onions.
Brandy
You can use any brandy, cognac or Marsala, but if you don't want to use alcohol, then you can leave it out.
Peppercorns
I like a lot of peppercorns in my sauce, but if you don't like the strong taste you can use green peppercorns instead as they are milder than black peppercorns.
Stock
I used a rich beef stock, but any good stock will do as long as it's strong.
Cream
Always use double (heavy) cream rather than single (light) cream otherwise your sauce will split and won't taste half as good.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card below!
Peppercorn Sauce for Steak
Ingredients
- 10g unsalted butter
- 3 shallots - peeled and very finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons brandy
- 1½ tablespoons of whole black peppercorns - crushed with a pestle and mortar
- 1 x Knorr Rich Beef stock pot - with onion and thyme dissolved in 300 ml of hot water (you will only need 200ml)
- 80ml double cream (heavy)
Instructions
- Crush the peppercorns in a pestle and mortar or in a zip-lock plastic bag and bash them!
- Heat the butter in a frying pan and add the shallots. Cook whilst stirring over a medium heat until soft but not coloured.
- Now add the peppercorns and the brandy, turn the heat up and cook until the liquid has almost gone - about 3 minutes.
- Add 200ml of the stock, keep the heat at medium-high, and cook until the stock has reduced by two-thirds.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool before stirring in the cream - this will stop it from curdling.
- Cook for a couple of minutes until the sauce has thickened and darkened, and is heated through. Serve poured over steak or on the side.
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