What was the primary motivation for the Jewish community inventing the Alheira sausage in the 16th century?
Answer
To disguise the sausage's lack of pork content to avoid the Inquisition.
The *Alheira* sausage holds significant historical importance rooted in religious preservation during the 16th century. It was invented by the Jewish community in Portugal specifically as a mechanism to evade suspicion from the Inquisition. Since consuming pork was forbidden to them, they needed a sausage recipe that would appear traditional to outside observers but would actually be composed of non-pork ingredients. The resulting traditional blend incorporates poultry and game meat, combined with bread and olive oil, successfully masking its true composition while still providing a satisfying sausage product.
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