'My Portugal' is our newsletter series celebrating Portuguese culture through conversations with friends of Portugalia Marketplace. This month, we are highlighting Maria Dias, author of Tia Maria's Blog and creator of Tia Maria's Portuguese Seasoning.
Maria Dias was born in Portugal and immigrated to the United States as a young girl. She is a self-taught cook, author, blogger, and entrepreneur with a deep passion for preserving and sharing the rich flavors of Portuguese cuisine. Alongside her daughter and co-author, Lisa, she has published two popular cookbooks: Taste Portugal: 101 Easy Portuguese Recipes and Taste Portugal: More Easy Portuguese Recipes, which have sold thousands of copies globally.
Maria is the creator of Taste Portugal Seasonings, sold nationally at specialty stores (including Portugalia!). She also reaches a massive global audience through Tia Maria’s Blog, where her recipes have attracted millions of visitors and over 100,000 social media followers. Maria currently resides in Western Massachusetts with her husband, where she continues to share the flavors of Portugal with the world.
Portugalia Marketplace: Your parents ran a small restaurant and B&B in Braga, Portugal, when you were young. What is your most vivid memory of that childhood kitchen?
Maria Dias: My most vivid memory is cooking with my mother, Carmelina, when we first arrived in the United States. I was only six years old, but I was already in awe of her skill— how she could create incredible meals using the simplest kitchen tools. She prepared our family’s dinners with traditional Portuguese ingredients, filling our home with the comforting aromas of our culture.
One of my favorites was her Folar Transmontano (an egg-rich bread filled with cured meats) which she lovingly made for every holiday and family celebration. Those moments in the kitchen with her are what inspired my lifelong passion for cooking and preserving Portuguese cuisine.
PM: You moved to "Little Portugal" in Ludlow, Massachusetts, as a young girl. How did your family use food to make an unfamiliar place feel like home during those early years?
MD: My family was fortunate to immigrate to a large Portuguese community where my late aunts lived. This made the transition feel like home, even in a new country. Portuguese food and traditions were all around us, especially at a local market called Silva’s Market. I often visited the market with my parents as we did our grocery shopping, and I have such fond memories of Mr. Silva, who was a wonderful leader in the Portuguese community. His market was more than just a store; it was a place where our culture lived on. There, we could find all the traditional ingredients we needed: bacalhau (salt cod), olive oil, spices, and other essentials to prepare the dishes we grew up with and continue our cherished Portuguese traditions.
PM: You started the blog as a project with your daughter, Lisa. What was the "spark" that made you realize these family recipes needed to be documented for the world, rather than just kept in the family kitchen?
MD: Lisa wanted to document our family recipes so they could be preserved and shared with all of our family members. What started as a simple idea quickly grew into something much bigger. The blog became very popular, and over the years, I heard from so many people searching for long-lost family recipes.
I responded to countless messages from individuals who wanted to reconnect with their heritage through food, many of whom no longer had written records of their ancestors’ recipes. These same people encouraged me to write a cookbook, so they could bring traditional Portuguese dishes back into their homes and share them with future generations.
PM: You have over 30 nieces and nephews who call you "Tia Maria," but now thousands of strangers do, too. How does it feel to be the "Auntie" to so many people trying to reconnect with their heritage?
MD: Being a “Tia Maria” has been both an honor and a true labor of love. To be recognized as “Tia Maria” wherever I go, even in the most unexpected places, is incredibly heartwarming. I am so grateful for the many people who have reached out to thank me for sharing our Portuguese heritage, traditions, and culture. It means everything to know that these recipes and stories are bringing people closer to their roots and to one another. My two cookbooks (Taste Portugal - 101 Easy Portuguese Recipes and Taste Portugal - More Easy Portuguese Recipes) have sold thousands of copies around the world, including copies sold at Portugalia where I had my first book signing back in 2014 with my daughter Lisa. It’s such a pleasure to share my recipes.
PM: What are the three essential Portuguese pantry items home cooks should always have to give their cooking an authentic soul?
MD: Portuguese cuisine closely reflects a Mediterranean-style diet, centered around fresh, simple, and flavorful ingredients. A well-stocked Portuguese pantry should always include essentials like Portuguese olive oil, bacalhau (salt cod), and of course, my Taste Portugal Seasoning. You’ll also find Portuguese chouriço, plenty of fresh vegetables, fresh fish, tinned sardines, and a variety of Portuguese cheeses. And no Portuguese kitchen is complete without Portuguese wine, used both in cooking and enjoyed during meals and celebrations to bring family and friends together around the table.
PM: You’ve dedicated your career to preserving Portuguese cooking traditions. What is your biggest hope for the young Portuguese-Americans who are just now starting to discover their roots through your recipes?
MD: My hope is that I have inspired the next generation of young Portuguese Americans to learn these recipes, both mine and others, so they can carry on our traditions, preserve our heritage, and ensure that our culture continues to thrive for years to come.
The moment you walk into Portugalia, you immediately feel the culture of Portugal all around you. The experience is so authentic, it feels like you’ve stepped right into Portugal. But if you can’t visit in person, you can always order online… no passport required!
Tia Maria's Portuguese Seasoning
I always recommend my Taste Portugal Seasoning. It’s made with authentic Portuguese flavors and spices used in everyday cooking. Just one easy shake and sprinkle enhances everything, from chicken and poultry to pork, beef, and seafood.
Every time I visit, I make sure to buy bacalhau (salt cod). It’s a must-have for traditional Portuguese recipes. I highly recommend visiting the temperature-controlled salt cod room; it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience. And if you can’t go in person, ordering online is a lifesaver for those without a local Portuguese market.
I absolutely love the imported Portuguese cheeses at Portugalia. With so many delicious varieties, they make my appetizers and charcuterie boards feel like a true masterpiece.
Sardines are a must to experience the true flavors of Portugal. There are so many varieties to enjoy, and the tins themselves are beautifully designed... almost too pretty to open!
Galos Barcelos Traditional Hand-Crafted Clay Roosters
Every Portuguese kitchen should have a Galo de Barcelos rooster. This iconic symbol of Portugal is believed to bring good luck and adds a special cultural touch to any home.