A Francesinha: The Perfect Post-Portweinkater Cure

What is Francesinha?

A Francesinha is a large Portuguese sandwich composed of layers of meat topped with cheese and covered with a rich beer sauce. It is a popular dish in Porto, Portugal, and is often served as a main course or as a snack.

History of Francesinha

The Francesinha was created in the 1950s by Daniel David Silva, a Portuguese chef who was inspired by the croque monsieur, a French sandwich. Silva's original recipe included steak, ham, sausage, and cheese, and it was topped with a beer sauce. The Francesinha quickly became popular in Porto, and it is now considered to be one of the city's signature dishes.

How to Make Francesinha

To make a Francesinha, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 loaf of white bread
• 1 pound of steak
• 1/2 pound of ham
• 1/2 pound of sausage
• 1 pound of cheese
• 1 cup of beer
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 2. Cut the bread into 1-inch thick slices. 3. Season the steak with salt and pepper and grill it to your desired doneness. 4. Slice the ham and sausage. 5. Grate the cheese. 6. In a large saucepan, combine the beer, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. 7. Add the steak, ham, and sausage to the saucepan and cook until heated through. 8. Remove the meat from the saucepan and place it on the bread slices. 9. Top with the cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. 10. Serve immediately.