Francesinha Sandwich Recipe: Scrumptious Portuguese Sandwich From Porto

cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories while maintaining flavor.

steak

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground beef is more economical and versatile.

tomato sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade tomato sauce

💰Cheaper: canned tomatoes

Canned tomatoes are budget-friendly and easy to use.

sausage

🥗Healthier: turkey sausage

💰Cheaper: hot dogs

Hot dogs provide a lower-cost alternative with similar flavors.

For the sauce, place a small saucepan over medium heat on the stove top. Melt the butter and add the onion, garlic, and a little salt. Cook until the onion is translucent and begins to brown. Immediately, add the crushed tomato and the peri peri sauce.

When the tomato is well cooked, add the beer, bay leaf, Port wine, and broth. Continue cooking uncovered for about ten more minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in a quarter cup of water and add it to the sauce. Cook for about five more minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Strain or blend the sauce and then return it into the hot pot. Set aside.

Season the steak with salt and pepper. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan and once hot, cook the steak for three minutes on each side. Make sure it browns a little.

Cut the sausages in half, lengthwise, to prevent them from curling up during cooking. Cook for three minutes on each side. Toast the slices of bread.

Assembling the francesinha: Place one slice of bread on a plate and top with the sliced ham. Place the steak on top of the ham. Trim the edges of any protruding pieces of meat. Cover with another slice of bread and top with sausages. Finally, cover with another slice of bread. Cover your sandwich with 6 to 8 slices of cheese. Repeat for the other sandwich. If desired, with a cookie-cutter, make a notch in the cheese at the top of the sandwich. Crack open a small raw egg and place in the opening.

Preheat oven on broiler. Put the plate of sandwiches quite close to the top and bake for about 3 minutes. Check regularly to make sure the cheese has only melted and not turned brown. Carefully remove the plate and transfer sandwiches to two plates. Pour warm sauce over each sandwich covering it entirely. Surround each sandwich with plenty of french fries and enjoy. Serve some additional sauce to use while eating your sandwich.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens