There is a reason why the humble sandwich has lasted throughout the centuries. Simple, yet satisfying, it is a way to combine ingredients in an easy-to-eat, accessible way. The Portuguese took it up a notch with their own version, the Francesinha, which is a saucy celebration of meat and cheese.
Ingredients:
Sandwich
- 3 slices white bread
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 thin pieces of steak, tenderized
- 3 slices of ham
- 2 cured pork sausages linguica or chorizo
- 8 slices of cheese
- 1 egg
Sauce
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tomato, crushed
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 bottle lager beer
- ¾ cup wine
- 1 tablespoon peri peri sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions:
- Place a small saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop. Melt the butter and add the onion, garlic, and a little salt.
- Cook until the onion is translucent and begins to brown. Immediately, add the crushed tomato and the peri peri sauce.
- When the tomato is well cooked, add the beer, wine, and broth. Continue cooking uncovered for about ten more minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in a quarter cup of water and add it to the sauce. Cook for about five more minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens.
- Strain or blend the sauce, then return it to the hot pot and set aside.
- Season the steak with salt and pepper. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan and once hot, cook the steak for three minutes on each side. Make sure it browns a little.
- Cut the sausages in half, lengthwise, and cook for three minutes on each side.
- Toast the slices of sliced bread and place one slice of bread on a plate. Top it with the sliced ham.
- Place the steak on top of the ham. Trim the edges of any protruding pieces of meat.
- Cover with another slice of bread and top with the sausages.
- Finally, cover with another slice of bread and the 6 slices of cheese.
- Make a notch in the cheese at the top of the sandwich. Crack open an egg and place it in the opening.
- Preheat the oven to the broiler and place the sandwich quite close to the top. Bake for about 3 minutes, checking regularly to make sure the cheese has only melted and not turned brown.
- Transfer the sandwich to a plate and cover entirely with sauce. It is also customary to serve with French fries.
