Francesinha

Francesinha (Porto-style Sandwich)

This iconic Porto sandwich layers ham, sausage, and steak between bread, blanketed with melted cheese and a rich beer-tomato sauce. It's messy, hearty, and utterly delicious.

Prep

30 min

Cook

30 min

Total

60 min

Serves

2

Difficulty

Medium

Recipe ingredients

• •4 slices soft bread (e.g., brioche or thick loaf), Traditional uses a specific Porto bread, but any soft bread works.
• •100 g (3½ oz) cooked ham slices, Use presunto if available, otherwise good-quality ham.
• •2 sausages linguiça or chorizo (about 200 g / 7 oz total), If linguiça is unavailable, use a smoked pork sausage that cooks well.
• •2 steaks thin beef steaks (about 150 g / 5 oz each), Sirloin or tenderloin works best.
• •8 slices flamengo cheese (or Edam/Gouda), About 200 g / 7 oz total; use a good melting cheese.
• •1 egg fried egg (optional), Traditionally served on top.
• •1 tbsp olive oil, For frying
• •1 onion finely chopped
• •2 cloves garlic, minced
• •1 can (14 oz can) crushed tomatoes (400 g)
• •330 ml (11 fl oz) lager beer (e.g., Super Bock), Any light lager works.
• •1 bay leaf bay leaf
• •1 tsp piri-piri sauce or hot sauce, Adjust to taste.
• •1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• •1 tbsp olive oil (for the sauce)
• •1 tsp cornstarch, Dissolved in 2 tbsp water, to thicken (optional)
• •salt and pepper, to taste

Steps

1. 1 Make the sauce: In a saucepan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, beer, bay leaf, piri-piri sauce, Worcestershire sauce (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until slightly reduced. Remove the bay leaf, then blend the sauce until smooth (or leave it chunky, as you prefer). If you want a thicker sauce, whisk in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for 2 more minutes. Keep warm.
2. 2 Cook the sausages: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage slices with a little oil until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside. The sausages should be fully cooked with no pink in the center.
3. 3 Cook the steaks: Season the steaks with salt and pepper. In the same skillet, cook the steaks over high heat for 2-3 minutes per side for medium, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 63°C (145°F). Rest them for 5 minutes before assembling.
4. 4 Toast the bread lightly and butter each slice. For each sandwich, place one slice on a plate. Layer with half of the ham, half of the cooked sausage, and one steak. Top with the second slice of bread. Repeat to make the second sandwich.
5. 5 Preheat the oven broiler (grill). Place the sandwiches on an oven-safe dish. Cover the tops with the cheese slices, making sure they overlap slightly. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling, with golden spots.
6. 6 Pour the hot sauce generously over each sandwich, covering the cheese entirely. Serve immediately, each topped with a fried egg (if using) and a pile of French fries on the side. Eat with a knife and fork.