Alheira
Encyclopedia
The alheira is a Portuguese sausage made with many meats other than pork
, usually veal
, duck
, chicken
or rabbit
, and bread
.
It was invented by the Jews
of Portugal, who were forced to convert to Christianity, as a way to deceive the Portuguese Inquisition
. As the Jews weren't allowed by their religion to eat pork
meat, they were very easily identifiable by the fact that they didn't prepare and smoke the common pork sausages in the smokehouses (fumeiros in Portuguese). They, therefore, replaced pork
with a large variety of other meats, such as poultry
and game
, which would then be mixed with a bread
dough for consistency. This recipe would spread amongst Christians, although they added the ever-present pork
to it.
Alheiras are traditionally grilled or roasted and served with boiled vegetables. Cooked in this way it retains much of the aroma and taste. Nowadays, however, it became popular in its fast-food version, fried in olive oil, with chips and fried eggs. They are usually the cheapest choice on the menu and only those made of game are expensive.
Nowadays, the most renowned alheiras are those from Mirandela
, although throughout Beira Alta
and Trás-os-Montes
the traditional alheiras are also renowned.
Varieties with PGI
protection status include Alheira de Vinhais and Alheira de Barroso-Montalegre.
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
, usually veal
Veal
Veal is the meat of young cattle , as opposed to meat from older cattle. Though veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any breed, most veal comes from male calves of dairy cattle breeds...
, duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
, chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
or rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
, and bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
.
It was invented by the Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
of Portugal, who were forced to convert to Christianity, as a way to deceive the Portuguese Inquisition
Portuguese Inquisition
The Portuguese Inquisition was formally established in Portugal in 1536 at the request of the King of Portugal, João III. Manuel I had asked for the installation of the Inquisition in 1515 to fulfill the commitment of marriage with Maria of Aragon, but it was only after his death that the Pope...
. As the Jews weren't allowed by their religion to eat pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
meat, they were very easily identifiable by the fact that they didn't prepare and smoke the common pork sausages in the smokehouses (fumeiros in Portuguese). They, therefore, replaced pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
with a large variety of other meats, such as poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
and game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
, which would then be mixed with a bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
dough for consistency. This recipe would spread amongst Christians, although they added the ever-present pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
to it.
Alheiras are traditionally grilled or roasted and served with boiled vegetables. Cooked in this way it retains much of the aroma and taste. Nowadays, however, it became popular in its fast-food version, fried in olive oil, with chips and fried eggs. They are usually the cheapest choice on the menu and only those made of game are expensive.
Nowadays, the most renowned alheiras are those from Mirandela
Mirandela
Mirandela is a city in Mirandela Municipality in northern Portugal. The city itself has a population of about 15 000.Mirandela is famous for its cuisine, particularly the alheiras. Mirandela is becoming a popular tourist destination in northeastern Portugal. One of its four bridges on the Tua...
, although throughout Beira Alta
Beira Alta (region)
Beira Alta was one of the 13 regions of continental Portugal identified by geographer Amorim Girão, in a study published between 1927 and 1930.With Beira Trasmontana it became Beira Alta Province....
and Trás-os-Montes
Trás-os-Montes (region)
Trás-os-Montes was one of the 13 regions of continental Portugal identified by geographer Amorim Girão, in a study published between 1927 and 1930.Together with Alto Douro it formed Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province.- See also :...
the traditional alheiras are also renowned.
Varieties with PGI
Protected Geographical Status
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
protection status include Alheira de Vinhais and Alheira de Barroso-Montalegre.