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!
Aditi says
I have tried and loved so many of your recipes over the years, and reading the previous comment inspired me to finally write a note to try and sum it up. I found your site maybe 10 years ago, as a young woman who had never really tried to cook but wanted to learn. And a new instant pot owner too! Your recipes are spot-on and gave me the confidence to keep going. They were a real blessing when it came to feeding my rather formidable mother-in-law. It’s no exaggeration to say that your recipes have saved the day many many times. Thank you for the dedication and care with which you share your talents with us. You’re a life saver and I’m so glad I stumbled across your blog all those years ago. I come back all the time for weeknight meals, special family meals and potlucks. I have a young kid too, so perhaps know a little of what you feel. My best wishes to you, always.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Aditi, that is so kind of you, thank you for taking the time to write me a note. I love that you found my website back in my early blogging journey and stuck around 🙂 Your message means a lot and I’m not just saying that – I really appreciate it. It’s nice to hear that my work has been meaningful. Best wishes to you too.
Lissa Beebe says
I hope you keep going on this journey. I started following you years ago. I purchased your digital and then the self published cookbook. I ALWAYS go back to your recipes. You are so talented at writing recipes with flavor but without unnecessary steps. I was just reading a chicken biryani recipe in NYT. I thought to myself, Ashley’s recipe is so much better than this. I know it’s hard to raise busy kids AND keep up with side projects. I’m hoping you can get back to this someday. Your work is OUTSTANDING and SO APPRECIATED!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Lissa, this is so kind of you – really, it means more than you know. Truthfully I’ve been struggling with life heh, though things are thankfully improving. I’m still unsure about what I want to do when my youngest goes to school in a couple of years but reading messages like this makes me think that maybe I was on the right track… thanks for taking the time to write to me! 🙂
Cyndi says
Everything Lissa said. I check back often hoping you are well. Thank you for responding.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Aw thank you, Cyndi – it’s really nice to see a message from you 🙂 I hope you are well too.