Francesinha

Name: Francesinha
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Portuguese
Ingredients: 4 slices thick white bread; 200g beef steak, thinly sliced; 150g cooked chicken breast, sliced; 100g fresh cheese (queijo da serra or similar); 200g grated cheese for topping; For sauce: 1 onion diced, 2 cloves garlic, 200ml beer, 200ml tomato passata, 1 tbsp butter, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp piri piri, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, salt; French fries for serving

Francesinha (fran-seh-ZEE-nyah)

Little French Lady Sandwich

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 666 kcal

Porto's legendary toasted sandwich layered with beef steak, chicken, and cheese, drenched in a spicy beer and tomato sauce and served with a golden crown of melted cheese and a side of fries.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 42.0g

Carbs 48.0g

Fat 34.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy ⚠ eggs

Equipment Needed

oven-safe dish saucepan skillet

Presentation Guide

Vessel: oval oven dish

Garnishes: melted cheese, sauce

Accompaniments: french fries, cold beer

Ingredients

4 slices thick white bread
200g beef steak, thinly sliced
150g cooked chicken breast, sliced
100g fresh cheese (queijo da serra or similar)
200g grated cheese for topping
For sauce: 1 onion diced, 2 cloves garlic, 200ml beer, 200ml tomato passata, 1 tbsp butter, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp piri piri, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, salt
French fries for serving

Instructions

1
Make the sauce: sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add beer, tomato passata, bay leaf, piri piri, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 20 minutes until thick. Season and strain.
2
Pan-fry the beef steak slices until browned. Set aside.
3
Layer the sandwich in an oven-safe dish: bread, fresh cheese slices, chicken, beef steak, more cheese, and top bread slice.
4
Cover the entire sandwich generously with grated cheese.
5
Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
6
Pour the hot sauce around and partially over the sandwich. Serve immediately with a side of crispy fries.

💡

Did You Know?

The francesinha was invented by a Portuguese emigrant who returned from France and adapted the croque-monsieur with a decidedly more extravagant Portuguese attitude.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

oven-safe dish
saucepan
skillet

Garnishing

melted cheese, sauce

Accompaniments

french fries, cold beer

The Story Behind Francesinha

The francesinha was created in the 1960s by Daniel da Silva, who had worked in France and was inspired by the croque-monsieur. He transformed it into something far more indulgent, adding multiple meats and a spicy beer sauce. It became Porto's signature dish and a source of fierce local pride, with every restaurant guarding its sauce recipe.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch, late-night meal 📜 Origins: 1960s Porto

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