For the sauce, fry the shallot, garlic and thyme in the butter for a minute. Add the brandy then add the stock and reduce by half. Add the peppercorns and cream, reduce by ½ then finish with butter . Fry the chips until crisp, spoon the sauce over the steak and garnish with salad.
Peppercorn sauce is the perfect accompaniment for steak and chips, here’s how to make it in less than 10 minutes. By
Steak and chips is a popular dish for couples to cook one another on Valentine’s Day, but TV chef James Martin has a strict rule when it comes to the ingredients used for a peppercorn sauce. During a previous instalment of his Saturday Morning cookery show, a viewer asked if she could substitute black peppercorns for pink and the chef explained how pink peppercorns are “too floral” and “not strong” enough to make a punchy peppercorn sauce.
James said you can cook a steak and make a peppercorn sauce in less than 10 minutes.
He began by taking a large pinch of black peppercorns and using the back of a knife, crushed them. You can also use a pestle and mortar for this process.
A viewer asked: “Can I use pink peppercorns as well?” James replied: “Black peppercorns. Black peppercorns alright? Not pink peppercorns, black peppercorns.”
He then scattered the smashed peppercorns onto the raw steak to season it, then explained why pink peppercorns can’t be used for this dish.
“Pink peppercorns are too floral, they’re not as strong. So, you want to use black peppercorns,” James noted.
“Now the sauce for this is really straightforward. What we’ve got here is a little bit of shallot – the reason why we use shallot is that it’s milder than onion, so we can do this quite quickly.
“So we take a little bit of diced shallot, then then the other ingredients for our sauce are; a little bit of veal stock – you can buy veal stock in pouches in supermarkets. You want some double cream, green peppercorns – not pink ones, green ones, green ones!” The chef joked teasing the viewer.
He had placed his steak onto a griddle to start cooking and then added oil or butter to a hot pan to make his sauce.
The ingredients were then added to the pan and the chef said brandy or white wine could also be added to the sauce.
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How To Make Peppercorn Sauce | Cookery School | Waitrose
FAQ
What is peppercorn sauce made of?
Can I use Whisky instead of brandy in peppercorn sauce?
How do you make peppercorn steak sauce?
Peppercorn Steak Sauce is the quick-and-easy recipe for your next family steak night or date night at home. Rich, creamy, and savory! Place the peppercorns in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin. Set aside until ready to use. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
How do you cook peppercorns on a stovetop?
Set your peppercorns aside and move on to the stovetop. Add a ¼ cup of unsalted butter to a large saucepan and allow it to melt over medium-low heat. Watch the butter closely, and do not allow it to burn. As soon as the butter has melted, add the crushed peppercorns and a finely diced shallot.
How long does it take to cook a steak and peppercorn sauce?
He explained how to cook both a steak and peppercorn sauce in less than 10 minutes. Firstly, the chef took a steak and sprinkled some black peppercorn on either side of it, after squashing the corns with a back of a knife. He warned not to use pink peppercorns as they “are too floral, they’re not strong”.
How do you cook peppercorns in a crock pot?
Place the peppercorns in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin. Set aside until ready to use. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Do not allow to brown or burn. Measure out and add 2 tablespoons of crushed peppercorns, along with the shallot. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until the shallots have softened.