Sauces French

Peppercorn Sauce

A classic creamy peppercorn sauce for steak, where Basic leans on stock and cracked pepper, Better builds a proper pan sauce, and Ultimate finishes with brandy, beef stock reduction and green peppercorns in brine.

Serves4
Time11 min
Cost / serving£0.60
Gluten-free Nut-free

Make it your way

Pick a tier — the ingredients, method and cost update instantly.

Budget version

A quick stovetop sauce using stock cube and cream with cracked black pepper.

Per serving£0.60
Total cost£2.40
Time11 min
Servings

Ingredients for 4

  • 20 g butter
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
  • 1 beef stock cube , crumbled
  • 200 ml boiling water
  • 150 ml double cream
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • salt , to taste

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and add the crushed peppercorns, sizzling for 30 seconds.
  2. Dissolve the stock cube in the boiling water and pour it in, then simmer for 3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  3. Stir in the cream and Dijon mustard and simmer for 3-4 minutes until lightly thickened.
  4. Taste, season with salt, and serve over steak.

The three ways, side by side

Budget
£0.60 / serving · 11 min

A quick stovetop sauce using stock cube and cream with cracked black pepper.

Better
£1.05 / serving · 20 min

A proper pan sauce made in the steak pan with shallots and a beef stock base.

Ultimate
£1.95 / serving · 28 min

Chef-level sauce with a brandy flambé, reduced beef stock and green peppercorns in brine.