Francesinha

History

Invented in 1950s Porto by an émigré adapting the French croque-monsieur to Portuguese tastes, the francesinha ('little Frenchie') layers sausages, ham and steak between bread, drapes the whole thing in melted cheese, and floods it with a piquant tomato-and-beer sauce — usually crowned with a fried egg and ringed by fries.

Ingredients

• Thick white sandwich bread
• Fresh sausage (linguiça)
• Smoked sausage
• Ham
• Steak
• Melted cheese
• Fried egg
• Tomato-and-beer sauce

How to Make

1. 1Layer linguiça, smoked sausage, ham and steak between two slices of thick white bread.
2. 2Cover the whole sandwich with slices of cheese.
3. 3Melt the cheese under a grill until it blankets the sides.
4. 4Pour hot tomato-and-beer sauce over the top.
5. 5Crown with a fried egg and serve surrounded by fries.

Known for it

• Café SantiagoR. de Passos Manuel 226, 4000-382 Porto, Portugal