Meats and oven dishes

Bife à portuguesa

Steak with garlic, bay leaves, wine and presunto sauce, served with egg and potatoes.

RegionLisbon / National
DifficultyEasy
Total time35 min
Servings2 servings
Photo of Bife à portuguesa — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Bife à portuguesa is a traditional restaurant dish and a hearty lunch classic.

The sauce comes from the frying pan, with garlic, bay leaves, wine and presunto, coating the steak without hiding the meat.

Ingredients

  • 2 thick-cut steaks
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 slices of presunto (Portuguese cured ham)
  • 3 sliced garlic cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 80 ml of white wine
  • 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil
  • French fries
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Season the steaks with salt and pepper.
  2. Brown quickly in a hot frying pan and set aside.
  3. In the same frying pan, sauté garlic, bay leaves and presunto.
  4. Add wine and reduce the sauce.
  5. Return the steaks to heat through.
  6. Serve with fried egg and potatoes.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Do not overcook the steak.
  • The sauce should be quickly reduced and glossy.
  • A small amount of presunto adds savoury depth to the sauce.

Possible replacements in Brazil

  • Use sirloin, rump or filet mignon.
  • Thinly sliced bacon can replace presunto in an adaptation.

Pairing

A young red wine or a light beer. For people over 18 years old; drink in moderation.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from the Portuguese culinary tradition. Like any traditional recipe, it can vary depending on the region, the family and the cook.

Do you have a family Portuguese recipe?

Send it to the Empório Portugal community. The recipes received are analyzed before any publication.

Submit my recipe

Quick facts

Prep
15 min
Cooking
20 min
Total time
35 min
Yield
2 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Occasion
Quick lunch, tavern dish

Pairing

A young red wine or a light beer. For people over 18 years old; drink in moderation.

Empório tip

Do not overcook the steak.

Carta de Portugal

Receive Portuguese recipes, guides and stories.

An editorial selection from Empório Portugal, without exaggerated promises and with respect for your privacy.

Subscribe to the newsletter