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The bifana, an iconic Portuguese pork chop sandwich
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Bifana - Portuguese Pork Loin Sandwich

Prep Time: 8 hours
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Author: Andrew Gavin
Bifana: The Iconic Portuguese Pork Loin Sandwich
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 lbs pork loin, thinly sliced , 1 kg (preferably Porco Preto)
  • 8 Portuguese rolls, or crusty sandwich rolls
  • 100 g red pepper puree, ~(1/3 cup)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup white wine, dry, preferably Portuguese Vinho Verde or a crisp white Sauvignon Blanc
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 10 white peppercorns (black peppercorns work too)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional for spice
  • Yellow mustard or piri-piri sauce for serving, optional

Equipment

  • 1 glass dish deep enough for marinating
  • 1 large pot or deep sided pan large enough for all of the ingredient, but you can cut the recipe in half or cook in batches as well

Instructions
 

  • Preparing the ingredients for the bifana portuguese pork chop sandwich marinade
    Combine the garlic, red pepper puree, white wine, salt, black peppercorns in the glass dish.
  • Marinading pork chop meat in a wine and garlic sauce for tender bifana pork chop sandwiches
    Stir together and then add the pork loins making sure the marinade covers the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours in the fridge.
  • When you are ready to cook remove the glass dish from the refrigerator. Place the pot or deep sided pan on the stove.
  • Pour the marinade into the pot or pan and turn on the heat to high.
  • Braising pork chop meat in a wine and garlic marinade for tender bifana pork chop sandwiches
    Add the pork loins. The loins should be covered with liquid. If there are any that are not, remove from the pan and cook in a second batch.
  • What the liquid begins to boil, reduce to the heat to medium low and simmer the meat for at least 30 minutes and up to 45 minutes. The extra time will increase the tenderness of the pork loin.
  • Once the cooking time has completed, cut the portuguese rolls in half. Dip both halfs into the sauce and then top with pork loin meat.
  • If desired, add some mustard or piri piri sauce to complete the sandwich.
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