Bifana is a classic Portuguese sandwich eaten all across the country.[1] According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the dish is "a matter of national pride" in Portugal.[2]
 A bifana sandwich served in Porto with pulled pork, egg, and cheese. |
According to Taste Atlas, the dish may have first been created in Vendas Novas, but it is served throughout the country.[1]
The typical ingredients are pork chops, steak, or loin, pounded thin or sliced, simmered with garlic and wine, then sandwiched inside heated bread.[3][1][4] There are regional variations which include marinating and grilling or roasting the pork and making the sauce separately and drizzling onto the bun and/or serving with mustard, hot sauce or sauteed onions.[1][5]
This dish is typically served at festivals that take place all over the country. It is typically viewed as a cheap, fast and easy meal.[citation needed] It is generally seen as a popular dish; McDonalds serves a version called McBifana.[1]
In the north of Portugal, the sandwich is usually served using shredded pork and a sauce, while in the south it is a lighter sandwich which uses a pork cutlet and a light marinade.[6]
The bifana has seen international adaptation in various European and North American cities, often in Portuguese immigrant communities. These adaptations sometimes modify traditional ingredients to cater to local tastes or ingredient availability, while still maintaining the essential characteristics of the original. [7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Bifana | Traditional Sandwich From Vendas Novas | TasteAtlas". www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ Liaw, Adam (2 November 2017). "Lisbon-style pork bifana recipe". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Bifana portuguesa destacada no guia Lonely Planet". Boas Notícias. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ McManus, Tim (13 March 2023). "The best sandwich in Philly is the Bifana at Grace & Proper". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ D'Orazio, Julia (2022-08-30). "This sandwich is like a map of Portugal". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Portuguese Sandwiches – Sandwiches of Portugal You Need to Try!". We Travel Portugal. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Fernandes, David (2023). "Global Flavors: The International Adaptation of the Portuguese Bifana". Culinary Explorer Magazine.
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