A Quick Note on Alheira
Alheira is one of the few Portuguese enchidos which is not made with pork, instead it uses poultry and sometimes game. That’s because alheiras are believed to have been created by the Jews of Portugal during the Inquisition. To avoid being persecuted, many would pretend to convert into Christianity while still practicing their faith in secret. In the northern city of Mirandela, this pretending went as far as creating a pork-free sausage to mask the Jewish practice of not consuming pork.
A Quick Note on Alheira
Alheira is one of the few Portuguese enchidos which is not made with pork, instead it uses poultry and sometimes game. That’s because alheiras are believed to have been created by the Jews of Portugal during the Inquisition. To avoid being persecuted, many would pretend to convert into Christianity while still practicing their faith in secret. In the northern city of Mirandela, this pretending went as far as creating a pork-free sausage to mask the Jewish practice of not consuming pork.
