Francesinha facts for kids
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A Portuguese sandwich, the Francesinha
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| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Portugal |
| Region or state | Porto |
| Main ingredients | Bread, ham, linguiça, fresh sausage (chipolata), steak or roast meat, cheese, spiced tomato and beer sauce |
| Variations | Egg on Top |
Francesinha (pronounced "fran-seh-ZEEN-yah") is a super popular sandwich from Portugal. It comes from the city of Porto. Imagine a sandwich packed with different meats like ham, a special Portuguese sausage called linguiça, and steak. Then, it's covered in melted cheese! But the most special part is its hot, thick, and spicy tomato and beer sauce. People usually eat it with a side of crispy french fries.
Contents
A Sandwich with a Story
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The Francesinha was created by Daniel David de Silva. He had lived in France and Belgium. When he moved back to Porto, Portugal, he wanted to make a new sandwich. He was inspired by the French "croque-monsieur" sandwich.
In 1953, Daniel first made his special sandwich at a restaurant called 'A Regaleira' in Porto. He used local meats and his own secret sauce. The Francesinha quickly became a very popular dish. It is now strongly connected to the city of Porto. Even though it started there, you can find it in many other places across Portugal. A classic Francesinha meal often includes the sandwich, surrounded by french fries covered in the famous sauce. It's usually enjoyed with a fino, which is a glass of draught beer.
Different Kinds of Francesinha
There isn't just one way to make a Francesinha. Many restaurants in Portugal have their own special versions. Here are a few examples:
- Café Barcarola (Porto): They make a Francesinha Especial with prawns and shrimp.
- Café Ábaco (Porto): Their Francesinha Especial includes roast pork.
- A Cascata (Porto): This place offers a Francesinha Especial with mushrooms and cream.
- Restaurante Cunha (Porto): They are known for an extra-large Francesinha!
The francesinha especial (special francesinha) is a common version. It often comes with a fried egg on top or potato chips. Other types of Francesinha can have fillings like pork, chicken, tuna, or even cod. There are also options for people who prefer vegetarian food.
The Secret Sauce
The sauce for Francesinha is very important. Every restaurant has its own unique recipe. The only ingredient that is almost always the same is beer. Most sauces are made with tomatoes and can be more or less spicy. The sauce usually has a red or orange color.
Regional Styles
The Francesinha poveira is a special type of Francesinha from Póvoa de Varzim. This town is north of Porto. It was created in the early 1960s. The poveira version uses different bread and sauce. It is made so you can hold it in your hand and eat it easily.
Pica-pau is a dish that is like a Francesinha but without the bread. It's made with steak cut into small pieces and covered in the special sauce. The name pica-pau means "woodpecker." This is because people traditionally eat it with small skewers or toothpicks, making them "peck" at the food.
See also
In Spanish: Francesinha para niños
