Francesinha Super Indulgent Portuguese Sandwich
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Francesinha Super Indulgent Portuguese Sandwich, a decadent classic from Porto that's packed with bold flavors and hearty layers. This towering creation features toasted thick slices of bread stacked with smoky ham, a tender grilled beef steak, crispy chorizo, and cured sausage, all smothered in gooey melted cheese and crowned with a perfectly fried egg. What truly sets this masterpiece apart is its rich, velvety beer and tomato-based sauce, infused with garlic, onions, bay leaves, and a touch of heat from hot sauce. Baked to bubbling perfection and served piping hot, this Francesinha is perfect for a cozy dinner or as a show-stopping centerpiece for any meal. Pair it with crispy fries and a cold beer for an authentic Portuguese experience that’s certain to impress!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 pieces Thick slices of bread
- 2 slices Smoked ham
- 1 small (about 4 ounces) Grilled beef steak
- 1 link (sliced) Chorizo sausage
- 1 link (sliced) Cured sausage (linguiça or similar)
- 6 slices Cheese slices (melting cheese like Edam or Gouda)
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 medium (finely chopped) Onion
- 2 minced Garlic cloves
- 2 leaves Bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon All-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 12 ounces Beer
- 1 cup Beef stock
- 1 teaspoon (more to taste) Hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon (or to taste) Salt
- 1 teaspoon (or to taste) Black pepper
- 2 large Eggs
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Butter one side of each bread slice and toast them lightly in a non-stick skillet until golden. Set aside.
In the same skillet, add a drizzle of olive oil and cook the beef steak until medium-rare (or to your liking). Remove and set aside.
Cook the chorizo and linguiça slices in the skillet until slightly crispy. Remove and set aside.
For the sauce, heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and bay leaves, sautéing until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in the tomato paste, followed by the beer and beef stock. Mix well to avoid lumps.
Add the hot sauce, salt, and black pepper, and let the sauce simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Discard the bay leaves and use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until smooth. Keep warm.
Assemble the sandwich by layering one slice of toasted bread with smoked ham, beef steak, chorizo slices, and linguiça slices. Top with the second slice of bread.
Cover the assembled sandwich with cheese slices, ensuring the cheese drapes over the sides of the sandwich.
Place the sandwich on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
While the sandwich bakes, fry the eggs in a non-stick skillet to your liking (sunny-side up is traditional).
Once the cheese has melted, remove the sandwich from the oven and plate it. Pour a generous amount of the warm sauce over the sandwich.
Top the sandwich with the fried egg and serve immediately. Enjoy your Francesinha with fries or a cold beer for the ultimate experience!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1834 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 100.0 g | 128% | |
| Saturated Fat | 48.8 g | 244% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 711 mg | 237% | |
| Sodium | 6074 mg | 264% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 87.1 g | 32% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.4 g | 23% | |
| Total Sugars | 19.1 g | ||
| Protein | 123.7 g | 247% | |
| Vitamin D | 3.2 mcg | 16% | |
| Calcium | 1488 mg | 114% | |
| Iron | 12.6 mg | 70% | |
| Potassium | 1784 mg | 38% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
