Portuguese Francesinha

An authentic recipe for the famous Portuguese Francesinha sandwich, featuring stacked cured meats, steak, melted cheese, and a savory spiced beer sauce.

Level Medium Prep 30 min Cook 30 min Servings 2 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

60 min

Makes 2 servings

Prep 30m

Cook 30m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for the famous Portuguese Francesinha sandwich, featuring stacked cured meats, steak, melted cheese, and a savory spiced beer sauce.

A legendary Porto sandwich drenched in a signature hot tomato and beer sauce.

Instructions

Season the steaks with salt and garlic, then pan-fry them along with the sliced sausage until cooked through.
Toast the slices of white bread lightly.
Assemble the sandwiches: place a slice of bread, layer with ham, steak, sausage, and salami, and top with the second slice of bread.
Cover the entire sandwich completely with slices of cheese on top and sides.
Prepare the sauce: melt butter in a saucepan, add garlic, tomato pulp, beer, whisky, and hot sauce. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until rich and smooth, blending if necessary.
Place the assembled sandwich under a broiler or in a hot oven until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
Transfer to a deep plate and pour the hot simmering beer sauce generously all over the sandwich before serving.

Nutrition

Calories 850

Protein 45g

Carbs 50g

Fat 52g

Fiber 3g

Sugar 6g

Sodium 1420mg

Serving Size 1 sandwich

Cooking Timeline

Prep 30 min

Cook 30 min

Total 60 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.1 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.8
Presentation 9.2
Nutrition 5.0
Value 9.0
Instructions 9.0
Ingredients 9.0
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.5
Would Make Again 9.0

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

The ultimate Portuguese comfort food experience, packed with layers of savory meats and a luscious sauce.

Pros

Incredibly flavorful
Hearty and filling
Unique sauce pairing

Cons

High calorie content
Requires multiple components to prep

Overview

A legendary Porto sandwich drenched in a signature hot tomato and beer sauce.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for the famous Portuguese Francesinha sandwich, featuring stacked cured meats, steak, melted cheese, and a savory spiced beer sauce.

Tips

Serve with a side of french fries to soak up the leftover sauce on the plate
Ensure the cheese completely covers the edges of the bread to seal the sandwich
Adjust the spice level of the sauce using peri-peri sauce to your personal preference