Francesinha (Porto Steak, Ham and Cheese Sandwich)
Porto's famous knife and fork sandwich of steak, sausage and ham under melted cheese, with a fried egg and a spicy beer tomato sauce.
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £6.00 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Melt the butter in a pan and cook the onion for 8 minutes until soft. Add the garlic, tomato purée, paprika and bay leaf and stir for 1 minute.
8 min - 2
Pour in the lager and boil for 3 minutes. Add the stock and piri piri sauce and simmer for 15 minutes until thick. Remove the bay leaf and blend until smooth. Keep warm.
18 min - 3
Cook the chips in the oven following the pack instructions.
- 4
Grill the sausages for 12 minutes, turning, until cooked through, then halve them lengthways. Fry the steaks in half the oil in a hot pan for 1 minute each side.
12 min - 5
Toast the bread. On each of 2 heatproof plates, layer a slice of bread, 2 slices of ham, the sausage halves and a steak, then top with a second slice of bread. Cover the top and sides with the cheese slices.
- 6
Grill for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese bubbles and melts over the sandwiches. Meanwhile, fry the eggs in the remaining oil.
4 min - 7
Top each sandwich with a fried egg, pour over a generous amount of the hot sauce and serve with the chips.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
