Peppercorn Sauce (without Brandy) for Steak Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (2024)

FAQs

What can I replace brandy with in peppercorn sauce? ›

Brandy Any brandy, cognac or marsala will be fine, but if you don't want to use alcohol, then you can leave it out or add an extra spoonful of Worcestershire sauce. Stock We used beef stock but any good strong stock will work. Shallots You can also use brown or white onions, chopped finely.

BEEF BROTH: This is what I use instead of alcohol in this peppercorn sauce. It gives a depth of flavor to the sauce. HEAVY CREAM: Don't skimp on this! For the sauce to have the decadence you want, you'll want to use heavy cream.

What you'll need. I take a couple of small liberties here, which doesn't mean this recipe isn't classic. I don't want to go out and buy Cognac just to make this dish, so I use Bourbon which is a fine substitute for the more traditional Cognac that is used in Steak Au Poivre.

If you are skipping the brandy because you don't have any - try a rum or whisky instead. They have a slightly different flavour profile, but not hugely different.

Cognac is probably the best substitute for brandy in fruitcake. That's because cognac is basically fancy brandy. The naming is just a bit of technicality. You see, cognac can only legally be called 'cognac' if the grapes used to make it come from the Cognac region of France.

When the liquid amount is critical to the recipe, use water or fruit juices corresponding to the flavor of brandy, for instance, white grape juice, apple cider or apple juice, diluted peach, pear or apricot syrups.

So, if the recipe only needs cognac to make a liquid base, you can easily swap it with plain water. But if it's for flavor, you can switch it out with fruit juice. Unsweetened white grape juice is a fantastic option for this. Its gentle sweetness and hint of tanginess make it a near-perfect match to cognac's flavor.

Brandy is created by distilling wine, which can be made at home using any type of fruit. After the fruit has fermented, the liquid is distilled twice to produce a strong, clear spirit with the essence of peaches, plums, pears, or apples.

If you can't get your hands on brandy, another booze to use is Sherry, Wilson suggests. Sherry is a fortified wine that is similarly high in alcohol content to Cognac and, though not an exact match, can mimic Cognac's fruity, bright and sometimes sweet flavors.

This rich French sauce made of pepper, Cognac, and cream is traditionally served on steak, but it's equally good on pork or salmon. Instead of cream, this version is given body and richness with cornstarch-thickened evaporated milk.

What is the closest thing to cognac? ›

The best Cognac substitute? Any type of brandy. This is not surprising, since Cognac is a high-end French brandy! Brandy is a liquor made from distilling wine.

If you can't use alcohol, use the recipe in Note 5 and instead of using brandy in step 1, add 1/4 cup of non alcoholic red wine or water. 3. Do not make this sauce with full salt beef broth. The sauce will end up too salty because it's reduced down.

Ingredients. Primary ingredients are typically peppercorns and heavy cream. Additional ingredients may include butter, wine, brandy, such as cognac, shallots, garlic and additional seasonings, such as bay leaf, star anise, tarragon and salt. Some versions may incorporate liquor, such as whiskey.

Brandy is the classic flavour for peppercorn sauce but you can easily substitute another spirit. Readers have used both whiskey and vermouth with success.

A common use of brandy is to flambé desserts like bananas foster, cherries jubilee, and bombe Alaska (a meringue dessert). On the savory end of things, brandy goes well with all sorts of meats and seafood. It's often used to deglaze the pan and form a sauce or combined with other liquids to braise a cut of meat.

So, if the recipe only needs cognac to make a liquid base, you can easily swap it with plain water. But if it's for flavor, you can switch it out with fruit juice. Unsweetened white grape juice is a fantastic option for this. Its gentle sweetness and hint of tanginess make it a near-perfect match to cognac's flavor.