Portuguese · main
Francesinha
Francesinha reads umami 7.6, richness 6.0 and salinity 5.1 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Portuguese main, about 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 8.2 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.2 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 2.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.6 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.2 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.0 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 7.6 · Richness 6.0 · Salinity 5.1 · Heat 2.6 · Allium 2.6 · Bitterness 2.3 · Sweetness 1.8 · Sourness 1.7 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Fruity 1.4 · Funk & Ferment 1.3 · Smoke 1.2 · Herbaceous 1.2 · Earthy 1.2 · Citrus 0.9 · Nutty 0.7
What's in it (15)
- 8 thick slices white bread
- 4 oz ham
- 4 oz chouriço
- 4 oz blood sausage
- 8 oz thin beef steak
- 6 oz melting cheese (Edam
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beer
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 onion
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp piri-piri
- 2 tbsp butter
- salt to taste
- 4 eggs (optional)
Time & effort: about 40 min (20 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 189.6 kcal, 11.9 g protein, 10.9 g fat, 10.1 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Layer ham, chouriço, sausage, and steak between bread slices to build the sandwich.
- Cover entirely with sliced cheese and place in the oven until the cheese melts over the sides.
- Prepare the sauce by simmering beer, broth, tomato paste, onion, bay leaf, and piri-piri, then straining and finishing with butter.
- Pour the hot sauce over the cheese-covered sandwich and serve with fries; optionally top with a fried egg.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Guinness Beef Stew with Pearl Onions — Irish
- Tinga Poblana de Puerco y Chorizo — Mexican · Puebla
- Frijoles Charros Norteños — Mexican · Norteño
- Cajun Smothered Beef Tips over Rice — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta — Italian-American
Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.