Is Francesinha a Snacks or National Dish In Portugal?
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| Francesinha |
The Francesinha is definitely a full dish, and a very heavy one at that! While it looks like a sandwich, you’ll almost never see a local eating it as a light snack or with their hands. It is a sit-down, knife-and-fork meal that usually requires a nap afterward.
Here is why it’s considered a main course:
1. The Ingredients
It is a "meat-lover's tower" packed with:
a. Toasted bread
b. Wet-cured ham
c. linguiça (smoke-cured pork sausage)
d. fresh sausage (like chipolata)
e. A thick steak or roast beef
f. A blanket of melted cheese.
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| Francesinha |
2. The Presentation
It is served in a deep plate because it is literally drowning in a hot, thick sauce made from tomato, beer, and piri-piri (chili). It is almost always accompanied by a generous mountain of french fries (used to soak up the extra sauce) and often topped with a fried egg.
3. The "Porto Pride"
It originated in Porto in the 1950s. A returnee from France, Daniel David de Silva, tried to adapt the French Croque Monsieur to Portuguese tastes by adding lots of meat and a spicy sauce. The name "Francesinha" actually means "Little Frenchie."
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| Francesinha |
Is it a snack?
Only if you have a massive appetite! Most people eat it for lunch or dinner. Because it is so calorie-dense, it's often the only thing you'll need to eat for several hours.
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