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This article deals with the Portuguese sausage. For the parish in the municipality of Barcelos, Portugal, see Alheira (Barcelos).

The alheira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐˈʎɐjɾɐ]) is a type of Portuguese sausage, made with meats other than pork (usually veal, duck, chicken, quayle or rabbit) and bread.

Although its name derives from the Portuguese word for garlic (alho) and was once used to describe any sausage seasoned with it, present-day alheiras don't necessarily contain garlic.

The type of sausage currently known as "alheira" was invented by the Jews of Portugal ^{[citation needed]}, who were forced to convert to Christianity, as a way to deceive the Portuguese Inquisition. Since their religion didn't allow them to eat pork, they were easily identifiable by the fact that they hang sausages in their smokehouses (fumeiros in Portuguese). As a cover, they replaced pork with a large variety of other meats, such as poultry and game, which would then be mixed with bread for texture. This recipe would later spread amongst Christians, who added the ever-present pork to it.

Alheiras were traditionally grilled or roasted and served with boiled vegetables. Nowadays, however, they tend to be deep-fried and served with with chips and a fried egg. They are often one of the cheapest courses in restaurant menus, although those made with game can be expensive.

Although typically associated with the city of Mirandela, the regions of Beira Alta and Trás-os-Montes are also famous for their alheiras.

Varieties with PGI protection status include Alheira de Vinhais and Alheira de Barroso-Montalegre.

External links

Alheira (in Portuguese)

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 [[Image:Alheira.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Fried alheira from Mirandela]]
-The '''alheira''' ({{IPA-pt|ɐˈʎɐjɾɐ}}) is a Portuguese sausage made with many meats other than [[pork]], usually [[veal]], [[duck]], [[chicken]] or [[rabbit]], and [[bread]].
+The '''alheira''' ({{IPA-pt|ɐˈʎɐjɾɐ}}) is a type of Portuguese sausage, made with meats other than [[pork]] (usually [[veal]], [[duck]], [[chicken]], [[quayle]] or [[rabbit]]) and [[bread]].
+Although its name derives from the Portuguese word for [[garlic]] ('''alho''') and was once used to describe any sausage seasoned with it, present-day alheiras don't necessarily contain garlic.
-It was invented by the [[Jews]] of Portugal {{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}, 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.
+The type of sausage currently known as "alheira" was invented by the [[Jews]] of Portugal {{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}, who were forced to convert to Christianity, as a way to deceive the [[Portuguese Inquisition]]. Since their religion didn't allow them to eat [[pork]], they were easily identifiable by the fact that they hang sausages in their smokehouses ([[fumeiros]] in Portuguese). As a cover, they replaced [[pork]] with a large variety of other meats, such as [[poultry]] and [[game]], which would then be mixed with bread for texture. This recipe would later spread amongst Christians, who 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.
+Alheiras were traditionally grilled or roasted and served with boiled vegetables. Nowadays, however, they tend to be deep-fried and served with with chips and a fried egg. They are often one of the cheapest courses in restaurant menus, although those made with game can be expensive.
-Nowadays, the most renowned alheiras are those from [[Mirandela]], although throughout [[Beira Alta (region)|Beira Alta]] and [[Trás-os-Montes (region)|Trás-os-Montes]] the traditional alheiras are also renowned.
+Although typically associated with the city of [[Mirandela]], the regions of [[Beira Alta (region)|Beira Alta]] and [[Trás-os-Montes (region)|Trás-os-Montes]] are also famous for their alheiras.
 Varieties with [[Protected Geographical Status|PGI]] protection status include ''Alheira de Vinhais'' and ''Alheira de Barroso-Montalegre''.