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Meat, European

Francesinha with fries

Francesinha is a hearty Portuguese sandwich layered with steak, sausage and ham, covered in melted cheese and topped with a tomato and beer sauce. This recipe serves 4, takes about 1 hour, rates as medium difficulty and costs €4.40 per person. The key to success is a well seasoned sauce and cheese melted under the broiler until it bubbles.

Tonight it's Portuguese madness with the francesinha, a huge sandwich of steak, sausage and ham, drowned in melted cheese and beer sauce.

Francesinha with fries
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€4.40
Calories per person
900 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Francesinha is a sandwich that doesn't hold back. Under a thick layer of melted cheese, you'll find steak, sausage and ham, all soaked in a lightly spiced beer sauce that ties everything together. The bread softens just enough under the hot sauce, and the fried egg on top adds a runny yolk that mixes into everything from the first bite.

This dish takes a bit of organizing, between the oven fries, the seared meat and the reducing sauce, but nothing here is technically hard. It's a great choice for a family Sunday night or to surprise guests with something different from the usual sandwich. Kids generally love the melted cheese and fries, and you can simply adjust the chili for different tastes at the table.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • Sandwich bread 8 slices

Butcher

  • Beef steaks 4
  • Fresh sausages 4
  • Ham 4 slices

Dairy

  • Swiss cheese slices 8 slices
  • Eggs 4
  • Heavy cream 10 cl

Pantry

  • Lager beeroften in the pantry 25 cl
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Chili flakesoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Frozen foods

  • Frozen oven fries 800 g

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Bake the frozen fries according to the package instructions. 25 min

    Spread them out on the baking sheet without overlapping, they brown better that way.

  2. Cook the steaks and sausages in a skillet with the oil until browned and cooked through. 12 min

    Cut the sausages in half lengthwise, they fit better in the sandwich.

  3. Make the sauce by heating the beer with the tomato paste, chili and cream, and let it reduce into a thick sauce. 12 min

    Taste it, it should be lightly spiced, this sauce gives the whole dish its character.

  4. Build each francesinha with a slice of bread, ham, steak, sausage, a second slice, then cover with cheese and place under the broiler. 8 min

    Use oven safe plates, you can slide them straight under the broiler.

  5. Fry the eggs, place one on top of each sandwich, pour over the hot sauce and serve with the fries. 4 min

    Pour the sauce generously and at the last moment so the bread doesn't get soggy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use oven safe plates so you can build the sandwiches directly on them and slide them straight under the broiler without moving them.
  • Serve the francesinha as soon as the cheese is melted and bubbling, it loses its appeal if it sits on the table too long.
  • If you don't have a broiler pan, a covered skillet over low heat also works well for melting the cheese.

The variations

  • Swap the sandwich bread for a lightly toasted country loaf for a heartier version that holds up better to the sauce.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the steak, sausage and ham with soy steaks and plant based cheese, keeping the beer sauce the same.
  • For kids, make a milder version without chili and with just one type of meat, like ham and cheese only.

What to serve it with

  • A sharply dressed green salad
  • A cold lager
  • A sparkling fruit juice for kids

Storage

Francesinha is best eaten right away, since the melted cheese and fried egg don't reheat very well. You can keep the sauce alone for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container and gently reheat it in a saucepan before building fresh sandwiches.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different beer in the sauce?

Yes, you can replace the lager with beef broth and a splash of vinegar for a touch of acidity. The flavor will be less traditional, but the sauce will still be thick and tasty.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes, make the sauce a day ahead and store it in a sealed container in the fridge. Gently reheat it in a saucepan while you assemble the sandwiches.

What cheese can I use instead of Swiss cheese?

A mild cheddar or raclette cheese both melt nicely under the broiler. Choose a cheese that forms a thick, melty blanket over the sandwich.

Can you freeze francesinha?

No, it's not recommended, since the sauce soaked bread and fried egg don't hold up well to freezing. It's better to only freeze any leftover sauce, not the assembled sandwich.

How long does it take to make a francesinha with fries?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a francesinha with fries?

About 900 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a francesinha with fries cost?

About €4.40 per serving, or €17.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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