Francesinha: If there is a gastronomic icon in Porto, that is definitely Francesinha (translated, it means something like “little french girl”) and there is no way you should leave us without tasting the traditional sandwich.
And why do we say this?
Because coming to Porto and not tasting Francesinha is like going to Rome and forgetting to visit the Vatican city.
And here’s the story behind:
Francesinha was originally created in Porto by Daniel David Silva around 1950 (at least, all the versions of the story seem unanimous when it comes to him). He spent several years in France and was inspired by their culture. But while all the girls already wore short clothes in France, Portugal was still immersed in modesty. We have to remember that in the ’50s, Portugal was living a dictatorship.
The dish made Daniel remember those times, so when he came back he adjusted the recipe to the Portuguese food.
What brings all the ingredients together is the sauce, which actually remains a secret until today. What we know for sure is that it takes a lot of alcohol, gathering all the flavors in Francesinha.
Francesinha is composed by:
- two slices of bread
- slices of roast pork loin or beef steak
- ham
- sausage and fresh sausage
- a Portuguese chouriço called linguiça
- cheese (a lot!)
- fried egg on the top
In the end, it all goes in the oven until the cheese begins to melt. And voilà!
So if you’re not used to such flavors, you should pour the sauce slowly because yep… it can be very spicy!
Now what you really need to know:
If you’re visiting the city with the help of City Lovers Tours, all our tour guides will advise you on the best places to eat Francesinha.
Or you can always book a food tour with us and unravel all the hidden secrets!
