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Homemade steak is great, but peppercorn sauce can make it fantastic. Whip up a classic peppercorn steak sauce using the drippings from the steak, cognac, cream, and black peppercorns. Or create a somewhat spicy peppercorn sauce with brined green peppercorns. If you'd like to cut out the cream from the sauce, make a roux that thickens it in place of the cream. Enhance your peppercorn sauce with Dijon mustard or extra salt and pepper.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil or steak drippings
  • 1/3 cup (35 g) minced shallot
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) cognac or brandy
  • 2 cups (475 ml) beef broth or stock
  • 1 tablespoon (8 g) black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream
  • 4 teaspoons (10 g) cornstarch
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons (10 to 15 g) Dijon mustard

Makes enough for 4 servings

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons (35 g) butter
  • 4 1/2 tablespoons (35 g) flour
  • 3/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons (200 ml) milk
  • 1/3 cup plus 4 teaspoons (100 ml) chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) brandy
  • 4 teaspoons (15 g) black peppercorns
  • Salt to taste

Makes enough for 4 servings

  • 1 tablespoon (14 g) butter
  • 1/4 cup (25 g) chopped shallots
  • 3/4 cup (180 ml) beef broth or stock
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) cognac or brandy
  • 2 tablespoons (5.5 g) green peppercorns in brine,drained

Makes enough for 4 servings

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making Classic Peppercorn Steak Sauce

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Pour 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil or steak drippings into a skillet and turn the heat to medium. Peel a shallot and 1 clove of garlic. Use a sharp knife to mince the shallot , so you get 1/3 cup (35 g). You should also mince the garlic . [1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Stir the minced shallot and garlic into the hot oil. Stir and cook the aromatic mixture until the shallot softens. This should take 1 to 2 minutes. [2]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Keep the heat on medium and stir in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of cognac or brandy, 2 cups (475 ml) of beef stock or broth, and 1 tablespoon (8 g) of coarsely crushed black peppercorns. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Get out a small bowl and pour 1/3 cup (80 ml) of heavy cream into it. Add 4 teaspoons (10 g) of cornstarch and whisk until the cornstarch is dissolved. Whisk the mixture into the skillet with the sauce. [4]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Whisk 2 to 3 teaspoons (10 to 15 g) of Dijon mustard into the skillet and bring the sauce to a gentle bubble. Simmer the sauce until it's as thick as you like. This could take 5 minutes (for a thinner sauce) to 30 minutes (for a very thick sauce). Serve the classic peppercorn sauce with your favorite steak. [5]
    • Store the leftover peppercorn sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it and use it within 1 to 2 days.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making Peppercorn Sauce Without Cream

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Measure 4 teaspoons (15 g) of black peppercorns into a mortar. Use a pestle to crack the peppercorns until they're slightly crushed and aromatic. [6]
    • If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can put the peppercorns in a seal able plastic bag. Hit the peppercorns in the bag with a rolling pin until they're slightly crushed.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Place 2 1/2 tablespoons (35 g) of butter in a small saucepan and turn the heat to low. Stir 4 1/2 tablespoons (35 g) of flour into the melted butter. Keep stirring and cooking the roux mixture until the flour is absorbed. [7]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Stir and cook the roux over low heat for 2 minutes. The roux should become thick and pasty. [8]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Pour 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of brandy into the roux and stir it until the liquid is absorbed. The alcohol in the brandy will cook off. [9]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Measure 3/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons (200 ml) of milk and slowly pour it in while you whisk the mixture. Keep whisking to prevent the sauce from becoming lumpy. [10]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Once the sauce is smooth, stir in 1/3 cup plus 4 teaspoons (100 ml) of chicken or vegetable stock. Stir in the crushed black peppercorns. [11]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Taste the sauce and add as much salt as you like. You can serve the hot sauce over your favorite meal or continue to simmer it to make a very thick sauce or gravy. [12]
    • You can store the leftover peppercorn sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making Green Peppercorn Cream Sauce

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Place 1 tablespoon (14 g) of butter into a skillet and turn the heat to medium-high. Peel 1 shallot and use a sharp knife to chop it into small pieces. You should have about 1/4 cup (25 g). [13]
    • If you cooked steaks in the skillet, you could use 1 tablespoon (14 g) of drippings instead of the butter.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Stir the chopped shallots into the melted butter. Cook and stir the shallots until they soften. This should take 2 minutes. Turn off the heat. [14]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Add 3/4 cup (180 ml) of beef broth or stock, 1 cup (240 ml) of whipping cream, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of cognac or brandy, and 2 tablespoons (5.5 g) of drained green peppercorns. Stir the sauce until the ingredients are combined. [15]
    • You can also use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Turn the heat on to medium-high until the sauce begins to boil. Reduce the heat to medium, so the sauce bubbles gently. Stir and simmer the sauce until it thickens a little. This should take 6 minutes. [16]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peppercorn Sauce
    Taste the sauce and season it with salt and ground pepper according to your taste. Spoon the hot sauce over steaks, chicken, or rice. [17]
    • Store the leftover peppercorn sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it and use it within 1 to 2 days.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Are there any other ways to make peppercorn sauce without cream?
    Josiah Salyer is a Chef based in Austin, Texas. He offers over 20 years of diverse culinary expertise and currently works as a private chef for various clients. He has trained under three master chefs and two celebrity chefs, including Lorena Garcia from the television show Top Master Chef. He is an active member of the American Culinary Federation. His culinary knowledge spans a wide range of flavors and disciplines, and his work combines both technical levels of flavor and Southern home cooking classics. He aims to bring master-level cooking to his clients and train other chefs to embrace freedom in their cooking. He received his Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and Chef Training at the International Culinary Center.
    Chef
    Expert Answer
    To make a peppercorn sauce without cream, start by crafting a demi-glace through the reduction of beef stock and, optionally, adding bone marrow for deeper flavor. Introduce peppercorns and a sprig of thyme to the mixture, actively reducing it until it achieves the desired thickness. Finally, strain the sauce to eliminate any solids, leaving you with a rich and flavorful peppercorn sauce.
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      Tips

      • You can leave the brandy or cognac out of any of these recipes. Your sauce just won't have as rich of a flavor.
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      Things You'll Need

      Classic Peppercorn Steak Sauce

      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Digital scale
      • Skillet
      • Spoon
      • Whisk
      • Knife and cutting board
      • Small bowl

      Peppercorn Sauce Without Cream

      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Digital scale
      • Mortar and pestle
      • Small saucepan
      • Spoon
      • Whisk

      Green Peppercorn Cream Sauce

      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Digital scale
      • Skillet
      • Spoon
      • Whisk
      • Knife and cutting board

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a classic peppercorn sauce, start by heating olive oil or steak drippings in a skillet over medium heat. Next, mince shallot and garlic, and sauté both in hot oil for about 1 minute before adding cognac, beef stock, and peppercorns. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch with heavy cream and whisk it into the sauce in the pan. Finally, stir in mustard and let it simmer for 5 to 30 minutes, leaving it on longer for a thicker sauce, and serve with steak. To learn how to make peppercorn sauce without cream, read on!

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      • Rosanne Bonnici

        Dec 12, 2019

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