Bifana, sandwich with marinated pork

Name: Bifana, sandwich with marinated pork
Prep time: 1 h 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 4 buns
Ingredients: 500 g pork leg; 150 ml white wine; 4 cloves garlic; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 0.5 teaspoon ground caraway; 2 pcs bay leaves; salt; ground pepper; olive oil; 4 pcs bread roll; mustard

Eduard LáskaSnackPortuguese Cuisine x se líbilo

Bifana is a Portuguese sandwich of thin slices of pork leg, marinated in white wine, garlic and paprika and quickly seared in a pan. The meat is then piled into a soft bun spread with mustard, doused in the pan juices and eaten hot by hand. In Portugal bifana is one of the most popular street foods, sold in every cafe and at every fair, and washed down with cold beer. At home you can make it from everyday ingredients, the meat just needs a few hours in the marinade to turn tender and full of flavor.

Příprava: 1h 10min

Vaření: 10min

CELKOVÝ ČAS: 1h 20min

Step by step process

Marinade and Meat Preparation

1
The key to a perfect bifana sandwich is properly sliced meat. Cut the pork loin into thin slices about 5 mm thick. Peel the garlic and finely chop or crush it with a garlic press.
2
In a bowl, mix together the white wine, garlic, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and bay leaves. Add the pork slices, season with salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly with your hands.
3
Cover the bowl with cling film and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, ideally overnight. The longer it marinates, the more intense the flavour. The longer, the better.

Frying and Assembly

4
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Remove the pork slices from the marinade and pat them dry with a paper towel.
5
Fry the slices on each side for 2-3 minutes until golden. Then pour in the remaining marinade and let it bubble for 2 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
6
Slice the rolls in half and spread with mustard. Add the juicy pork slices with a little pan sauce and serve immediately. Serve at once.
TIP:
Toast the cut buns on a hot pan cut side down for about a minute until they are golden and crispy, which enhances their flavor and aroma.