What is cracked black pepper?

Cracked black pepper is black peppercorns that have been cracked instead of ground. Cracked black pepper gives a more intense flavor to foods than ground black pepper.

Freshly cracked peppercorns are more flavorful than store-bought cracked peppercorns. Cracked black pepper is made by crushing the black peppercorns by hand. This can be done using a meat mallet on a hard surface, such as a cutting board, or by using a mortar and pestle. Cracked black pepper is perfect for sprinkling over pastas and salads. It is a good addition to meat rubs as well as most meat and vegetable dishes.