Thin slices of beef marinated in garlic, white wine, and piri piri, then pan-fried until sizzling and stuffed into a crusty roll. Portugal's most popular fast food, simple and addictive.
Ingredients
500g beef loin, very thinly sliced
4 crusty bread rolls (papo-seco)
4 cloves garlic, minced
200ml white wine
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 tsp piri piri sauce
1 tsp sweet paprika
Salt
Mustard (optional)
Instructions
1Combine garlic, white wine, bay leaf, piri piri, paprika, olive oil, and salt in a bowl. Add beef slices and marinate at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
2Heat a skillet over high heat. Remove beef from marinade, reserving the liquid.
3Pan-fry beef slices in batches for 1-2 minutes per side until browned and sizzling.
4Pour reserved marinade into the pan and let it bubble and reduce into a concentrated sauce.
5Split bread rolls and briefly toast cut-side down in the pan juices.
6Pile beef slices into the rolls and spoon the pan sauce over. Serve immediately.
Did You Know?
The town of Vendas Novas claims to have invented the bifana and holds an annual festival in its honor, attracting thousands of sandwich pilgrims.