Sometimes, you just need cracked black peppercorns for that right taste -- like for Steak au Poivre. Black Pepper is a common spice in many cuisines with a very strong and pungent flavour and pronounced heat. It is a generic seasoning used along with salt and is best when freshly ground. Cracked Black Peppercorns can be used to flavour stocks, red wine marinades for game, oil marinades for olives or goat cheese, and in pickles. They are essential in a Mignonette sauce for oysters or used to coat beef for Steak au Poivre.