About Ashley

Hi, I’m Ashley!

I’m the writer and recipe maker here at My Heart Beets. Thanks for reading my blog!

These two little boys are my taste testers. These picky eaters help me decide which recipes are “blog-worthy.” I think you’ll love everything you make from my site, but if you don’t, you’ll have to take it up with them.

My story… I was born in the US to Indian immigrants. I grew up in a Punjabi family eating delicious North Indian Food and I was completely unaware of how varied Indian cuisine was until I started dating Rob. He introduced me to South Indian Cuisine, specifically Keralite food.

Soon after marriage, I felt the desire to learn our family’s recipes. The problem was that when I’d call to ask for measurements, my mom would tell me she cooks “andaz naal” which basically means she eyeballs everything. Anyone with Indian parents knows they don’t measure ingredients (ever) and so trying to recreate their recipes is tough.

My solution to this was… to pester my parents. 😂 Whenever I’d visit home, I’d follow them around the kitchen, taking notes and asking questions. I would sometimes “help” them as they cooked, measuring their ingredients before they threw them into the pot. I started paying close attention to ratios as well as how things were supposed to taste. I used this information, gathered over several years, to test and develop many of the recipes that I share here on my blog and in my books.

I continue to learn a lot about cooking from my mom, but it’s my dad who helps me perfect my recipes.

I’m convinced my dad is a supertaster (he has a powerful sense of smell, too) – he can try a dish once, tell you precisely what’s in it, and most importantly, tell you what to add to make it even better. I have my dad taste test a lot of my recipes, especially my traditional Punjabi Recipes. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to test certain recipes before getting my dad’s approval (Gajar Halwa, Chana Masala, Rajma – the last one he approved, and then a year later, he changed his mind and told me to try and “make it one level better.” Sometimes I think he likes to keep me on my toes 😂 ).

There’s one more thing I’d really like you to know about me, and that is my “why.” The reason I share my recipes here is because I want to help make Indian food accessible. If you’re Indian and are looking to feel more connected to your culture or to eat food reminiscent of the cooking that you grew up with, I hope to help. If you’re new to the cuisine, my hope is that you’ll embrace it, and introduce it to family and friends. I believe that food brings us closer, and I think when we’re all a bit closer, we’re all a bit happier.

I’m thrilled you’re here and excited for you to give my recipes a try. If you make a dish, please leave me a comment to let me know what you think!

If you’re new here and wondering where to start, give one of the recipes below a try. Also, be sure to check out my Onion Masala Series – it makes cooking Indian food a breeze!

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Comments

  1. janet says

    Hello, I have just started reading your recipes & site. I’m American married to a Pakistani for 30+ years now. I’ve been cooking Indian/ Desi foods for awhile now. I’m always looking for new recipes & faster ways to prepare them. I consider my method HURRY CURRY. I’d rather get it done as soon as possible ,if it can be. I know some meals do take longer because they are better flavored when slow cooked.
    I do look forward to trying some of your recipes. I do like making my own masala mixes too as well as using prepared masala mixes such as Shan or Laziza.

  2. Melinda says

    I just wanted to let you know that you have inspired so many delicious meals at our table. I am a southern California girl missing Mexican food, which is next to impossible to find in Germany, so I dove into the next best cuisine: Indian food. I am gluten-free and have a small website, mostly a hobby with a small following. I’d love to post a link to your site in my June newsletter if it is okay.

  3. Marina Joseph says

    Hi Ashley,

    Your recipes have transformed my approach to Indian cooking. Thank you!! The onion masala recipes were a game changer. I have referred your recipes to so many people. I’m from Kerala and I have to say that your kerala beef recipes take the drudgery out of that delicacies.

    Sending you loads of good wishes and thank you again!

  4. Nishita says

    HI Ashley, I have been following for some time now. Really enjoy making your vegetarian recipes. Did you change your Instagram account? I don’t see anything new on the account anymore, so wondering if I am missing your most recent recipes!

    • Ashley - My Heart Beets says

      Hi Nishita! I’m so glad you like my recipes 🙂 I don’t care much for instagram if I’m being honest and posting drains me so I stopped a while ago. I also haven’t shared anything new in a while – busy with 3 kids and want to focus on them during this season of life but maybe one day soon! I still try to reply here on the blog when I can though!

  5. PETER DESOUZA says

    Ashley, you are a credit to both India and your country of birth .. the United States. I made your pani puri and it was the best I have ever tasted. I live in Perth, Western Australia. We have just had the ready made puris being made available so we are having the best pani puri treat ever! Thank you so much and wishing you all the very best!

  6. as written below says

    Please! what is an Instant pot?
    what would it be called in the UK? Pressure cooker?
    what could I use as a substitute?

  7. Shirin says

    Ashley,

    Thank you so much for your wonderful website. If at all possible, can you please also include in the recipe cards how many servings of each dish so that I can measure beforehand if I should half, double, or leave the recipe the same.

    We all appreciate you!!

  8. kartik sivaraman says

    You are amazing. I have started using your recipe. Find it easy and the result is great.
    Thanks and best wishes.

  9. Michelle says

    Love, love, love your site. Enjoying the recipes.

    RE: Kerala Vegetable Stew (Instant Pot and Stovetop). Ingredients say 1 can of coconut milk plus 1 cup. Can I ask what size can you refer to? Cans come in different sizes here. Knowing the approximate total millilitres of coconut milk required in this recipe would be very helpful.

    Thanks so much.

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