Trás-os-Montes, Portugal

Portugal

Trás-os-Montes ('behind the mountains') is Portugal's remote northeastern corner, bordered by Spain to the north and east. Cold winters, granite terrain, and oak forests define the landscape. The region has a long tradition of cured and smoked meats (fumeiro), born from the need to preserve food through harsh mountain winters. Mirandela, a small city along the Tua River, is the center of alheira production and holds PGI status for Alheira de Mirandela. Isolation kept the region's Jewish communities hidden for centuries after the Inquisition, and alheira is one of their lasting contributions to Portuguese food culture.

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Sausages from Trás-os-Montes, Portugal

Alheira

Alheira

Trás-os-Montes, Portugal

Alheira is a smoked Portuguese sausage from Trás-os-Montes with a horseshoe shape, a pale golden skin, and a soft bread-and-meat filling. Portuguese Jews invented it during the Inquisition as camouflage: since they could not eat pork, they stuffed casings with poultry, bread, garlic, and olive oil so that Inquisition inspectors would see sausages hanging in their smokehouses and move on. The classic serving is deep-fried whole until the skin blisters, then plated with a fried egg and french fries. Alheira de Mirandela holds PGI (IGP) protection since 2008.

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