Creamy peppercorn sauce has a lovely rich warmth to it that goes so well with a juicy steak.
You can make it in about 10 minutes, so it can be bubbling away while your steak is resting.
Personally, I love it over chips (without the steak) for a comforting weekend lunch!
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A classic steak sauce made with black peppercorns, cream and brandy for a lovely, rich sauce that's just right for a date night or a special occasion.
We like lots of peppercorns in our sauce, and although it does seem like a lot, the harshness of the pepper cooks out and becomes milder.
📋 What do we need?
- Black Peppercorns You can also use green peppercorns for a milder flavour
- Cream Always use double (heavy) cream rather than single or light cream to ensure a luscious sauce that won't split.
- Brandy Any brandy, cognac or marsala will be fine, but if you don't want to use alcohol, then you can leave it out or add an extra spoonful of Worcestershire sauce.
- Stock We used beef stock but any good strong stock will work.
- Shallots You can also use brown or white onions, chopped finely.
📺 Watch how to make it
Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Place the peppercorns in a small bag and crush lightly (or use a mortar and pestle)
- Sauté the shallots, salt and peppercorns in butter and oil until softened
- Add the brandy, then the stock and Worcestershire sauce and boil rapidly for five minutes
- Stir in the cream and any pan juices and bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and serve.
👩🍳PRO TIP Although it sounds like a lot of pepper, the flavour of the pepper cooks out and becomes milder. You may even want to add MORE pepper. Simply taste the finished sauce and stir in more freshly ground pepper to taste, before serving
I love chips dipped in this peppercorn sauce, very decadent and delicious, and oh so moreish, a guilty pleasure that's for sure.
Do you like to serve yours with anything other than steak? I'd love to hear in the comments.
🍽️ What to serve it with
- Perfectly juicy steak
- Poured over oven-baked chips
- As an alternative to gravy with roast chicken
Peppercorn sauce poured over a perfectly seared steak is the stuff of dreams, it just needs some of my homemade oven chips and I really am in heaven
🍲 More fantastic Steak Sauces
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Peppercorn Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tbsp 15g unsalted butter
- ½ tbsp sunflower oil - if you’ve just cooked steak to go with this sauce, use the oils/meat-drippings that are left in the pan, instead of the sunflower oil and butter.
- 2 shallots - peeled and chopped finely
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp brandy
- 180 ml (¾ cup) beef stock
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 120 ml (½ cup) double (heavy) cream
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place 3 teaspoons of the peppercorns in a zip-lock back, and roughly crush with a rolling pin (or use a pestle and mortar if you have one). Don’t bash too much – we want a bit of texture, rather than a fine powder. Put to one side.
- Add the butter and oil to a frying pan and heat over a medium heat.
- When the butter has melted, add the shallots, salt the crushed peppers from earlier and the remaining 1 teaspoon of whole peppercorns. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the shallots are just starting to soften.
- Add the brandy to the pan, bubble for 1 minute, then add in the stock and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil and simmer rapidly for 5 minutes until reduced by half.
- Stir in the cream (if you have any juices from resting your steak, add them to the pan now too). Bring back to a simmer, then turn off the heat.
- Serve over steak.
Video
✎ Notes
- Want it without the alcohol? Leave out the brandy and add an extra teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.
- Try green peppercorns instead of black for a milder flavour
Nutrition
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Kathy says
Absolutely gorgeous 🥰. Added thinly sliced mushrooms too ! Love Nicky's recipes x
Edward Wills says
My favourite peppercorn sauce recipe! I’ve adjusted it slightly - soy sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce, and flambé the brandy instead of bubbling! What do you think?
Ron says
Sounds fantastic. Can I make the stock with oxo cubes. Keep up the good work really look forward to your recipes.
Monica says
I like Peppercorn Sauce on Steak and Kidney pie or even a Steak and Guinness Pie , it just gives a bit more luxury. I have to admit I usually buy it, but will certainly be trying your recipe next time. Thank you.
Sheila says
Can this be frozen please?
Barry Roberts says
Hi Nicky thank you for the Peppercorn Sauce Recipe which i will print off and give it a go, that's if i manage to get some Steak. When my Wife and i eat out now and again (pre Covid) i always had a Mix Grill or Steak and Chips with the Peppercorn Sauce depending on the mood, and like you i poured it over the Steak as you do, but the majority of it went on my chips, once my meal was eaten and there was nothing left on my plate, i see some still left of the Sauce in my little jug they bring the Sauce in, but everything gone off my plate so what do i do? so nobody's watching i finish it off with my finger to my Wifes shock, to which i turn to her and say "hey i'm getting my moneys worth, i paid for it" ha ha ha.
Thanks again for the Recipe and Stay Safe.
Barry.
Andy Ross says
I thought the comments section was meant to be about the recipe not a story about what you and your wife do when you go for a meal, you haven'r even made the sauce so why comment on your eating habits Yawn!!!