The Portuguese bifana sandwich, a culinary staple of Portugal, epitomizes the country’s rich gastronomic heritage. This dish primarily consists of marinated pork, typically seasoned with garlic and spices, served in a crusty bread roll. The bifana’s simplicity belies its deep-rooted cultural significance and popularity among both locals and tourists alike. It is often enjoyed as street food, emphasizing its accessibility and appeal across diverse demographics. To create an authentic bifana sandwich, one must begin with high-quality pork loin or shoulder, which is then sliced thinly to ensure tenderness upon cooking. The marinade is crucial; it usually includes a blend of garlic, paprika, white wine or vinegar, and sometimes a hint of piri-piri for those who prefer a spicier profile. The bun is just as important to the recipe, a kaiser bun is best but any soft bun will do. Once cooked, the meat is placed inside the bun and can often be accompanied by mustard or spicy sauce according to personal preference.
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Portuguese Bifana Sandwich Recipe
Prep Time: 6 hours Cook Time: 20 minutes Servings: 3
Ingredients
6 sliced pork loin chops
1 bay leaf, chopped
1 1/2 cup of white or green wine
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tbsp of paprika
3 tbsp of peri peri sauce
1 tbsp of pimento paste
1 tsp of black pepper
1 tsp of sea salt
1/2 cup of olive oil
1 tbsp of butter
Mustard for taste
Directions
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| Preparing Portuguese Bifana Sandwich |
1- In a large bowl, add bay leaf, wine, salt, black pepper, paprika, pimento paste, peri peri sauce and garlic cloves, mix well.
2- With a mallet, make pork loins as thin as you are able to get them.
3- Add each pork loin to bowl and submerge in marinade to make sure they are all coated. (save marinade)
4- Place in fridge for 5 to 6 hours.
5- Heat up olive oil and butter in large skillet on medium/high heat until butter is melted.
6- Add pork loins to skillet and cook (in batches if needed) until they are brown on each side, about 4 minutes per side and set aside on plate.
7- Pour marinade into skillet and heat up, for a minute or two.
8- Place pork loins into marinade and cook for an additional two minutes flipping pork loin after a minute.
9- Place 2 slices of pork in bun and squirt a good amount of mustard
10- Enjoy !!!
