Alheira is a traditional sausage filled from Mirandela. According to history, this sausage filled was created by the new Christians because they have been denied their Jewish religion. Its origin is the end of the XV century and principles of the XVI century, and is associated with the presence of Jews in Trás-os-Montes, portuguese region.
The Alheira de Mirandela is considered one of the 7 Wonders of Portuguese gastronomy 2011. Its ingredients are mainly wheat bread, olive oil, salt, paprika, meat and lard. The first sausages were cow meat, poultry (chicken, Peru) or hunting (rabbit, partridge). Presently they are pork, salami and ham and then smoked.
In the North region are roasted over coals with side dish of baked potatoes and a little olive oil. In the Central region are fried and with side dish of vegetables or chips, or even stuffed and wrapped in savoy cabbage.
Once a year, for two weekends between February and March there is the Fair Alheiras in Mirandela.
