The Traditional Sausage of Portugal
History of Jovenal Jr - Sao Paulo, Brasil
Alheira is a traditional sausage in Portuguese cuisine, with a famous version in Mirandela. It is a horseshoe-shaped smoked sausage filled with meat of different species, bread and seasonings. Supposedly, it was created by Jews in the 15th century in Portugal to disguise the consumption of pork, prohibited in the Jewish religion, in order to avoid persecution by the Inquisition. The recipe also ended up being appreciated by Christians, who added pork. Alheira is often grilled or roasted, served with side dishes such as potatoes, vegetables or rice, and is even enjoyed as an appetizer in some places, served with bread.
