Portuguese · main
Alheira
Alheira reads umami 6.9, richness 6.2 and salinity 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Portuguese main, about 48 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 7.5 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 3.5 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.6 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 3.4 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.8 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.6 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 6.9 · Richness 6.2 · Salinity 4.5 · Allium 4.2 · Sweetness 3.2 · Smoke 2.9 · Heat 2.4 · Nutty 2.1 · Earthy 2.0 · Funk & Ferment 1.8 · Bitterness 1.6 · Warm Spice 1.4 · Herbaceous 0.8 · Fruity 0.7 · Floral 0.7 · Sourness 0.6
What's in it (8)
- 1 lb chicken, poached and shredded
- 4 cups stale wheat bread, crusts removed
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp chouriço fat
- natural sausage casing (about 3 feet)
- 1 tsp salt
Time & effort: about 48 min (33 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 204 kcal, 13.6 g protein, 5.5 g fat, 25.2 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Shred poached chicken or game, mix with soaked bread, garlic, paprika, and olive oil into a loose farce, then fill into natural casings and smoke gently until the skin is golden.
- Pan fry or grill until the casing is crisp and the interior piping hot.
- Serve with fried egg, chips, and greens for the classic Portuguese prato do dia.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Migas — Spanish
- Tripas à Moda do Porto — Portuguese
- Quick Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage — Cajun/Creole
- Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Pasta — Italian-American
- Locro — Argentine
Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.