Francesinha, the Portuguese “sandwich”

Directions

1. First, start with the sauce, as it takes the longest to prepare and needs to be ready before assembling the sandwich. ≈ 3 min
2. Peel and chop the garlic and onion. ≈ 8 min
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the chopped garlic and onion. Stir to combine. ⏱ ≈ 10 min
4. When the onion is tender and starting to brown, after about 6-7 minutes, add the crushed tomatoes, beer, Tabasco sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. ⏱ 7 min
5. Cook over high heat for 5 minutes. ⏱ 5 min
6. Add the vegetable stock, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat. ⏱ 10 min
7. Take a small amount of sauce, add the cornstarch, and stir to dissolve. ≈ 4 min
8. Mix the ingredients together in the pot. ≈ 3 min
9. Blend the sauce in a blender or food processor, and if you want it very smooth, pass it through a fine-mesh sieve or chinois. ≈ 4 min
10. Return the sauce to the pot and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens without forming lumps. ⏱ ≈ 10 min
11. After three or four minutes, it will thicken: remove it from the heat and keep it warm while you prepare it. ⏱ ≈ 10 min
12. Cook the pork chops and sausages in a pan over medium heat. ⏱ ≈ 7 min
13. Cut the sausages in half lengthwise so they cook faster and sit better on the bread. ≈ 8 min
14. Grill the slices of bread. ⏱ ≈ 10 min
15. Preheat the oven to the grill setting, at 200 °C. ⏱ ≈ 35 min
16. Place a slice of bread on a plate, followed by two slices of pork and a slice of cheese. ≈ 3 min
17. Place another slice of toasted bread on top, then add the sausages and a slice of cheese. ⏱ ≈ 10 min
18. Cover with the last slice of bread, followed by the cooked ham slice. ≈ 3 min
19. Place four slices of cheese, each covering one side and part of the top. ≈ 3 min
20. Cover with the last slice of cheese and bake the dish for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese is melted. ⏱ 4 min
21. Carefully remove the plate, making sure not to burn yourself, and then pour hot sauce over the top and sides to cover them. ≈ 3 min
22. Serve immediately. ≈ 2 min