The Francesinha (meaning ”Little Frenchie” in Portuguese) is Portugal’s decadent answer to the croque-madame.
It’s a huge meat-filled monster topped with egg and cheese, smothered in a beer-based sauce,
and always served with French fries.

Ingredients

Sandwich:

• 2 slices of white bread
• 2 slices of smoked ham
• 4 slices of cheese
• 1 grilled sausage
• 1 fried or roasted slice of beef
• 1 egg

Sauce:

• 1 beer
• 1 cube of chicken stock
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp concentrated tomato paste
• 1/4 cup brandy or Port
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• chilli flakes to taste
• salt (if needed)

Method

Sauce:

• Dissolve cornstarch into the milk and add all the ingredients. Blend the liquid mix on a food processor.
• Put it into a pan over low heat and add the bay leaves. Stir it until it starts to boil. It’s ready – reserve.

Sandwich:

• Assemble the sandwich and save 2 slices of cheese.
• Put the sandwich on a plate and place the 2 slices of cheese on top.
• Fry the egg and top the sandwich with it. Cover with the remaining cheese.
• Pour the sauce over the sandwich (should be hot, so the cheese melts).

By: Dores Matos