Portuguese Steak Sandwich • Prego

Ahhh the lovely “prego”, this is a traditional Portuguese beef steak sandwich, this is a sandwich made with thin slices of beef steak, often marinated in garlic and olive oil, served on a Portuguese roll or bread, sometimes even with toppings such as sautéed onions or a fried egg. The name “prego” means “nail” in Portuguese, and it’s said to refer to the sound of the meat being pounded with a mallet to tenderize it before cooking.

This is sometimes confused with another very traditional portuguese steak sandwich called “bifana”, this is pork steak sandwich that’s made with thin slices of pork loin, seasoned with garlic and spices, and served on a Portuguese roll or bread with mustard.

The “bifana” is a very popular fast food snack in Portugal, and it’s often enjoyed with a cold beer or a glass of wine, while both the “prego” and the “bifana” are traditional Portuguese sandwiches, the “bifana” is generally more popular and widely known. This is partly due to its long history and cultural significance in Portugal, as well as its availability in many restaurants and tascas (small snack places) throughout the country. The “prego” is also popular in Portugal, but it’s often considered more of a regional specialty, found in certain areas and establishments.

Additionally, pork is a more common and affordable meat in Portugal, while beef is typically more expensive, which may also contribute to the “bifana” being more popular. However, both sandwiches are delicious and worth trying if you have the opportunity to visit Portugal, a Portuguese restaurant or in this case you can make it at home! ;D

Portuguese Steak Sandwich • Prego

Servings: 1
Time: 15mins
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: ★★★★★
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Ingredients

Bread Roll – 1
Beef – 1 Steak
Garlic – 1 Clove
Bay Leaf – 1
Lard – 1 Teaspoon
Olive Oil – 1 Thread
Mustard – To Taste
Pepper – To Taste
Salt – To Taste

Directions

If the cut of beef steak is cheaper, or tougher, it’s a good idea to put some cling film on top and pound the meat with a mallet or rolling pin to tenderize it a bit before cooking.

Season the meat with sliced garlic, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
Heat a frying pan with a dash of olive oil and lard, add the steak with the garlic and bay leaf.

Fry both sides until nicely browned.

Open the bread, add the steak and season with a bit of yellow mustard and the garlic if you like, and that’s it, enjoy!

Notes: I used a more tender cut of meat so in this case there was no need to pound the meat to tenderize it, but traditionally you use a cheap cut of beef to make this sandwich.

This recipe for Portuguese Steak Sandwich • Prego was originally created on BakeAfter.com. Esta receita de Tradicional Prego no Pão foi publicada em português no Iguaria.com.