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20-Minute Shallot Cream Sauce

on November 5, 2022
last updated November 8, 2024
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This thick and rich Shallot Cream Sauce is a delicious and easy way to add moisture and flavor to any dish!
Shallot Cream Sauce garnished with rosemary

Looking for the perfect creamy finishing sauce for you side dish, main, or even to coat your pasta in? This Shallot Cream Sauce is incredibly versatile, adding rich, creamy texture and vibrant flavor to whatever you choose to pour it over.

With fresh herbs, crushed black peppercorn, and of course, the shallots, this delicious homemade sauce brightens up any meal! Plus, it only requires about 15 minutes and less than 10 ingredients to come together.

And just like this Mushroom Gravy, this recipe is a great one to have in your back pocket to really tie a meal together!

As a busy mom who has a preference for bold flavor, I love a quick and simple sauce I can whip up or make ahead to elevate any meal.

Shallot Cream Sauce in a gravy boat next to sauce-coated asparagus

Shallot Cream Sauce Ingredient Highlights


I recommend using whole peppercorns for the most flavor, but ground black pepper works in a pinch.

I like using unsalted butter because I find there is enough flavor without being heavy-handed on the salt here. It’s easy to add salt to taste if you’re using unsalted butter.

That being said, if you only have salted butter on hand, it will absolutely work in this recipe.

If you don’t like using heavy cream, you can substitute coconut cream. Just note you will get a subtle hint of coconut in the overall taste.

ingredients for shallot cream sauce - flour, rosemary, garlic, butter, vermouth, heavy cream, peppercorns, salt, shallots

Shallot Cream Sauce Tips and Tricks


Crush Your Peppercorn

Using fresh peppercorn goes a long way in this recipe to provide tons of flavor and even a little bit of heat.

I like to use my trusty mortar and pestle to thoroughly crush my black peppercorns, but you can also opt to place your peppercorns in a storage bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.

If you don’t have whole peppercorns and want to substitute ground black pepper, that works, too! Start with 1/4 teaspoon, you can always add more later if you want to punch up your cream sauce.

Crushing peppercorn with pestle and mortar
Crush your peppercorns first. I like to use a mortar and pestle.

Prep Your Ingredients for the Homemade Sauce

Once your peppercorn is crushed, prep the rest of your ingredients.

Peel and dice your shallots, peel and mince your garlic, and remove the rosemary from the stems, and finely chop it.

Prepping shallots, garlic, and rosemary
Prep your shallot, garlic, and herbs before starting your sauce for the most seamless process.

Make a Veggie and Herb Roux

Add your prepped shallots, garlic, and rosemary to a large saucepan or shallow pot with the butter, crushed peppercorns, and salt.

Cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes until super fragrant and garlic and shallots are tender.

Now it’s time to form your roux by adding the all-purpose flour. Use a rubber whisk (preferred) or wooden spoon to mix, still over medium heat, until there are no visible lumps.

The melted butter will mix with the flour to form a thick paste around the shallots, garlic, and rosemary as pictured below.

Cooking down shallots, garlic, and rosemary.
Cook down your vegetables and herbs first in the butter.
Forming a roux to thicken Shallot Cream Sauce.
Add the flour and stir to form a roux.

Pour in Your Cream

Next, turn your heat all the way down to low and pour in your cream. Whisk again to combine it into the roux, ensuring you’re left with a smooth sauce.

Continue to heat on low, stirring occasionally until you are ready to serve. The longer you heat, the thicker the sauce will get.

Adding cream to shallot sauce
Lower the heat before pouring in your cream.

Serving Your Shallot Cream Sauce

Shallot sauce is a versatile sauce that can be used for anything from serving over meat or fish or even over roasted vegetables or carbohydrates like pasta, rice, or couscous.

It can also be used as a dipping sauce for steamed or raw vegetables!

My favorites for serving are:

Pouring Shallot Cream Sauce over roasted asparagus

How to Properly Store and Reheat Cream Sauce with Shallots

This Shallot Cream Sauce will last up to one week in the refrigerator in an airtight container. However, it’s best not to freeze any cream sauce for risk of separation.

To reheat the sauce, the name of the game is low and slow. Microwave or heat on the stove over low heat until thoroughly heated.

In the microwave, heat on the lowest setting in 30 second intervals, stirring in between. If it seems too thick, you can add a little extra cream.

Similarly, if you are reheating it on the stove, stir frequently and continue to assess the consistency, adding extra cream when needed.

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Shallot Cream Sauce garnished with rosemary

20-Minute Shallot Cream Sauce

5 from 2 votes
Marley Goldin
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This thick and rich Shallot Cream Sauce is a delicious and easy way to add moisture and flavor to any dish! Great over veggies, fish, meat, and even on pasta or rice!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ½ teaspoon whole peppercorns
  • 2 large shallots
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (dairy or plant-based)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup Vermouth
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or coconut cream)

Instructions
 

  • Use a mortar and pestle to crush your peppercorns. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, place the peppercorns in a storage bag and use a rolling pin to crush (use a reusable storage bag for a more sustainable option!). Peel and dice your shallots, peel and mince your garlic, and finely chop your rosemary.
    2 large shallots, 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary, ½ teaspoon whole peppercorns, 2 cloves garlic
  • Add the prepped peppercorns, shallots, garlic, and rosemary to a large saucepan or pot with the butter and salt. Sauté for about 5 minutes until shallots and garlic are tender.
    ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Add the flour and use a rubber whisk (preferred) or wooden spoon to mix the flour with the butter, forming a thick roux around the shallots, garlic, and rosemary.
    2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Add the Vermouth and whisk to combine, until the roux is integrated into the Vermouth. Continue to simmer until more of the liquid is absorbed.
    ½ cup Vermouth
  • Turn the heat off but keep the pan on the stove to use the residual heat. Slowly add the cream, stirring as you pour, and whisk to combine until smooth. If the sauce seems too thin, turn the heat back up to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until you reach desired consistency.
    1 cup heavy whipping cream

Pro Tips

  • Using a rubber whisk will allow you to whisk your sauce without damaging the bottom of your pot or saucepan. 
  • If you don’t have whole peppercorns, you can use ground black pepper. Start with 1/4 teaspoon. You can always add more at the end. 
  • For more delicious sauces to kick the flavor of your dish up a notch, check out these sauces and dressings
Course Sauces and Dressings
Cuisine American
Diet Vegetarian
Keyword 30 Minutes or Less, Cream Sauce, Shallots
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4 thoughts on “20-Minute Shallot Cream Sauce”

  1. Kristin Preisler

    5 stars
    This is a fantastic recipe and what I was looking for with the shallots I have on hand. Sherry instead of vermouth because it’s what I had. Thanks!

  2. What type of vermouth should be used in this recipe? Dry? Sweet? Can’t wait to try it, but I’m afraid I’ll use the wrong type!

    1. Hi Linda!! So sorry about the confusion! I use dry vermouth, but if you only have sweet vermouth on hand, that will work too!