This Pork Fillet with White Pepper Sauce is one of those 20 minute meals that makes week-dinner-stress something of the past.

Serve the Pork Fillet with White Pepper Sauce on a bed of steamed white rice, mash or couscous. Pork Fillets are so versatile and compared to beef fillet, it is very affordable. You can be very adventurous and make these stuffed rolls with cherries, or keep it flavorful with this mushroom and sweet wine sauce.

So, let’s talk about the sauce. A cream sauce, is a cream sauce right? Well, yes and no. I think we always opt for black pepper  or green pepper in our cream sauces, but have you ever tried white pepper. White pepper is like the forgotten child in the corner. I grew up with white pepper being very prominent in dishes like Green Bean Stew or Waterblommetjies. Somehow we have forgotten about this. White pepper is slightly hotter than black pepper. It is produced by removing the outer layer of the pepper corn before or after drying, leaving only the inner seed.  So I wanted a cream, yet hot sauce, so white pepper was my choice.

Pork Fillet with White Pepper Sauce

serves 6

Ingredients

1.2 kg pork fillets – trimmed

salt and white pepper

45 ml Olyfberg Olive Oil

3 cloves garlic – keep whole and unpeeled

a few sprigs thyme

1oo ml white wine

200 ml chicken stock

250 ml cream

15 ml cornstarch

10 – 15 ml freshly ground white pepper

juice of half a lemon

Method

Cut pork fillet in 4 cm medallions. Rub the meat lightly with some of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Heat the remainder of the oil in a cast iron skillet. When the pan is hot, add garlic cloves and thyme.  Fry the pork medallions in the flavored oil until light golden brown on each side. When all the meat is done, add the wine to the pan to lift the flavor bits that got stuck in the bottom of the pan. Add the stock, place the lid on and allow the meat to simmer for about 10 minutes. Mix the cream with the cornstarch and add to the pan. allow the sauce to thicken slightly. Add the pepper and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.