British · sauce

Creamy Peppercorn Sauce for Steak

Video by Waitrose & Partners on YouTube · Open on YouTube

40 minMakes 8 × 2 tbsp71 kcal a portion
  • Keto (2.1 g net carbs a serve)
  • Gluten-free ingredients
  • Nut-free

Contains: Milk. Check labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes.

Thickened by reducing beef stock rather than with flour, and only 100 ml of cream for the whole batch: 2 tbsp give about 70 kcal and 2 g of net carbs, so it suits a keto plate.

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Ingredients 9

Method

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Cook the shallot in the oil with a pinch of salt over medium heat for about 5 minutes until soft and sweet. Grate in the garlic near the end so it doesn't burn. 0:26
  2. Add the peppercorns, then the brandy, and let it bubble for a moment or two until it looks a little syrupy. 1:12
  3. Pour in the beef stock, turn up the heat and boil until it has reduced and thickened noticeably. 1:40
  4. Stir in the cream and Dijon mustard and simmer gently (not boiling) for about 20 minutes, until a spatula drawn through the sauce shows the base of the pan for a moment. 2:26
  5. Taste before adding more salt — the reduction concentrates the flavour. Serve with steak, or cool and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat gently. 3:10

Tip. Use fresh or homemade stock, or a low-salt one: stock cubes turn very salty when reduced. Waitrose doesn't give a yield; we estimate about 1 cup, 8 portions of 2 tbsp.

The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.

One portion (2 tbsp) gives you 1 of 8

Energy71 kcal300 kJ
Protein0.8 g2% of a day
Fibre0.4 g1% of a day
Carbohydrate2.5 g2.1 g net · 1 g sugars1% of a day
Fat6.3 g3 g saturated8% of a day
Sodium200 mg9% of a day

Where the energy comes from one serve

  • Net carbs 12%
  • Protein 5%
  • Fat 83%

Fits keto: 2.1 g net carbs a serve, with 83% of the energy from fat.

Vitamins & minerals % of a day, one serve · tap for more

Omega-3 Source12%

0.2 g a serve, mostly from rapeseed or sunflower oil (79%). Omega-3 fats support the heart and brain. Oily fish give EPA and DHA; walnuts, flax, chia and canola give ALA, which the body converts only a little.

Show the other 14
Vitamin A6%

52 µg a serve, mostly from whipping cream (100%). Keeps eyes, skin and the immune system healthy. Orange vegetables and dark greens give beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A.

Vitamin E3%

0.4 mg a serve, mostly from rapeseed or sunflower oil (68%). An antioxidant that protects cell membranes. Nuts, seeds and plant oils such as olive oil are the main sources.

Vitamin K2%

2.9 µg a serve, mostly from black or green peppercorns (42%). Needed for blood clotting and bones. Leafy greens and herbs are very rich in it. If you take warfarin, keep your intake steady and talk to your doctor.

Vitamin B62%

0 mg a serve, mostly from shallot (56%). Helps turn food into energy and make brain messengers. Chickpeas, fish, poultry, potatoes and bananas are good sources.

Selenium2%

1.1 µg a serve, mostly from dijon mustard (38%). Part of the body's antioxidant enzymes and needed for thyroid hormones. Seafood, eggs, meat and Brazil nuts are rich sources.

Potassium1%

70 mg a serve, mostly from fresh beef stock (29%). Balances sodium to help control blood pressure and keeps muscles and nerves working. Beans, potatoes, leafy greens and fruit are rich sources.

Calcium1%

18 mg a serve, mostly from whipping cream (45%). Builds bones and teeth and helps muscles and nerves work. Dairy, calcium-set tofu, sardines with their bones and some greens supply it.

Iron1%

0.3 mg a serve, mostly from black or green peppercorns (29%). Carries oxygen in your blood. Iron from plants absorbs better with vitamin C in the same meal — lemon, tomato or capsicum.

Magnesium1%

6.2 mg a serve, mostly from fresh beef stock (30%). Takes part in hundreds of reactions — energy, muscles, nerves, blood sugar and bones. Nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains are good sources.

Zinc1%

0.1 mg a serve, mostly from whipping cream (36%). Needed for immunity, wound healing, taste and growth. Meat, seafood, legumes, seeds and whole grains supply it.

Vitamin C1%

0.6 mg a serve, mostly from shallot (65%). An antioxidant needed for collagen, immunity and iron absorption. Long cooking destroys some, so raw herbs, citrus and capsicum help.

Folate1%

3.1 µg a serve, mostly from shallot (55%). Needed to make DNA and new cells — especially important before and in early pregnancy. Legumes and leafy greens are rich sources.

Vitamin B121%

0 µg a serve, mostly from whipping cream (100%). Keeps nerves and blood cells healthy. Found almost only in animal foods and fortified foods (some plant milks, nutritional yeast), so vegans need a reliable source.

Vitamin D0%

0.1 µg a serve, mostly from whipping cream (100%). Helps you absorb calcium for bones and supports muscles. Few foods have much — oily fish, eggs, UV-exposed mushrooms, fortified milks. Sunlight is the main source.

Estimated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central values; % of a day uses the food-label daily values. How this works

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Recipe and video by Waitrose & Partners; the method summary, nutrition estimate and diet notes are Notbroken’s. General information about food, not dietary advice.