Francesinha
If you've got thick white sandwich bread, fresh sausages and smoked ham, you're most of the way to this Portuguese beef: about 65 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for grill / broiler and frying pan / skillet. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (10)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Make the sauce by melting the butter, stirring in the flour to a roux, then whisking in the beer, passata, beef stock, tomato purée and piri-piri; simmer gently for 20 minutes until glossy and thickened, then season and keep warm.
- Fry the fresh sausages over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes until cooked through with no pink remaining and the juices run clear, then slice them lengthways; sear the thin steak for about 2 minutes per side until just cooked.
- Lightly toast the bread, then build each sandwich by layering smoked ham, the split sausage, the steak and a slice of cured ham between two slices, pressing gently to compact.
- Drape the cheese slices over the top and sides of each sandwich so it will melt into a blanket, then place them in a baking dish.
- Slide under a hot grill for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese melts and just begins to colour, watching closely so it does not burn.
- Transfer to warm plates, ladle the hot tomato-and-beer sauce generously over the top until it pools around the base, and serve immediately with hot chips on the side.
You'll use: Grill / broiler · Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Whisk · Baking dish
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
What to serve with Francesinha
- Piri-piri chicken and slaw Chicken
- Spring onion and prawn empanadas Seafood
- Grilled Portuguese sardines Seafood
- Fish fofos Seafood
Tips & common questions
How long does Francesinha take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 14 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Francesinha is an original Portuguese recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Francesinha Sandwich.jpg by TheRealDapperDan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.