Alheira with Fried Egg
A traditional sausage from Trás-os-Montes created by Portuguese Jews. Made with poultry meats and bread, fried until golden and served with a fried egg.
📖 The Story
The alheira has an extraordinary story of survival. In 1497, during the Portuguese Inquisition, Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or leave the country. Those who stayed, called New Christians, risked their lives if caught practicing Judaism. Since they didn't eat pork, they had no sausages hanging in their smokehouses – a telltale sign. So they invented the alheira, a sausage made of poultry and bread that looked identical to their neighbors' pork sausages. This ingenious invention saved countless lives. Today, the Alheira de Mirandela is one of Portugal's Seven Gastronomic Wonders.
🧺 Ingredients
- 2 alheiras
- 2 eggs
- French fries or turnip greens
- Olive oil
- Bean rice (optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Pierce the alheira with a fork in several spots to prevent bursting during frying.
- 2
Heat a skillet with a little olive oil or fat.
- 3
Fry the alheira over medium heat, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy on the outside (about 10-12 minutes).
- 4
Remove the alheira and keep warm.
- 5
In the same skillet, fry the eggs sunny-side up.
- 6
Serve the alheira topped with the egg.
- 7
Accompany with french fries, sautéed turnip greens, or bean rice.