Not a sandwich. The king of sandwiches. Porto’s cholesterol bomb. A heart attack on a plate. If you’d like to learn another way to refer to the Francesinha, join our Food Tour in Porto. But for now, it’s time to share the fascinating story behind this legendary dish.
HOW WAS IT INVENTED?
Francesinha means “little French woman” or simply “Frenchie” in Portuguese. You may wonder why our city’s most iconic sandwich is named after another country. We’d have to say: Good question! Though, we admit, it isn’t something we think about too much.
Nevertheless, here is your history lesson: this dish was created by Portuguese emigrants to France. They encountered the French snack, the croque monsieur, and decided to take it to a whole new level – making it bigger, better, and generally more delicious! Et voilà: this is how this dish was born!
Typically, people make a Francesinha with:
- bread (the thicker the better);
- wet-cured ham;
- linguiça (a Portuguese sausage);
- steak or roast beef.
Melted cheese and a special tomato and beer sauce cover everything. Most places serve it with a fried egg on top and French fries on the side for dipping in the sauce. Some places like to innovate by adding an extra ingredient, but what really makes the difference in this universe is… the sauce.
We’ve already shared our top five favorite spots for enjoying Francesinhas in Porto. But to find your perfect match, patience and persistence – along with a pair of sweatpants – are essential for undertaking this food challenge.
Francesinha is not a Tourist Trap
The Francesinha is a must-try BUT, if you want to taste the lesser-known flavors of the city, don’t miss the opportunity to book a Porto Food Tour. We won’t promise you the best francesinha in town or that you’ll check off every famous landmark in 3.5 hours. That’s not what this is about. What we can promise is real food – the kind our grandparents adored – and places that carry the weight of our childhood memories. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you!
With love,
Your Foodie Friends in Porto
