Francesinha - mother of all sandwiches

Francesinha (meaning Little Frenchie or simply Frenchie in Portuguese) is aPortuguese sandwich originally from Porto, made with bread, wet-cured ham,linguiça, fresh sausage like chipolata, steak or roast meat and covered with molten cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce served with french fries.

In portuguese "Francesinha" means little french girl. It's said this is an invention of a returned emigrant from France. It is a great sandwich and its sauce is a big secret! Nobody really knows the true sauce!

One Serving

The sauce recipe yields enough for 25 sandwiches. Make the sauce and freeze it in smaller quantities.

To Make the Sauce Ahead

• 3 large onions, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 cup water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pound ham, mortadella or salami, cut in pieces
• 7 tablespoons flour
• 1 beer
• 3 ounces whisky,or brandy
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Piri piri hot sauce or tabasco like sauce
• salt and ground pepper to taste
• 1 poached or scrambed egg (optional)

1. Fry the onions in the olive oil until translucent. Add the water, bay leaves and meats. Sauté the beef, sausage and ham for about 2 minutes each side.
2. When the meats are done, transfer to a dish and remove the bay leaves from the pan. Puree the remaining contents of the pan. Return the pan to the heat
3. Using the beer,dissolve the flour and tomato paste into a cup, followed by the whisky or brandy, salt, hot sauce. Mix thoroughly, add to the pan and bring to a simmer.
4. Place 1 slice of bread on a plate or small bowl. Top it with the beef slices, sausage,sliced lengthwise followed with a scrambled egg if using. Add the top slice of bread followed by placing the slices of cheese on top and on the sides. If you prefer a poached egg, add it on top of the last slice of bread.
5. Spoon the very hot sauce over the top and sides of the sandwich, melting the cheese. Serve immediately. You will need a fork and knife.

For one sandwich serving:

• 2 slices of sandwich bread
• 2 ounces sandwich steak, thinly sliced
• 2 ounces linguica or chourico sausage
• 4 thin slices of cheese (Sao Jorge or other soft cheese)
• 1 scrambled egg(optional)