Description
A rich, velvety peppercorn sauce made from scratch in under ten minutes. This restaurant-quality sauce balances bold peppery flavor with smooth cream, perfect for elevating steak night.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1–2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 1 shallot, finely minced
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
- Place whole black peppercorns in a mortar and gently crush them until cracked open, or crush in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the foam subsides, add the minced shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the crushed peppercorns to the pan with the shallots. Stir constantly for 30-60 seconds to toast them until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer.
- Let the broth simmer for 5-7 minutes until reduced by half and slightly syrupy.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes without boiling.
- Remove the pan from heat. Whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoon of cold butter until melted and the sauce is glossy. Taste and add salt if needed.
Notes
For a smoother sauce, pass the finished mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. If the sauce breaks or looks oily, whisk in a tablespoon of cold water or a small cube of cold butter to re-emulsify. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of cream or broth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1
Keywords: peppercorn sauce, steak sauce, creamy sauce, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, keto friendly, gluten free, restaurant quality sauce