'They make very good vegetarian food': Vance's praise for Indian culinary prowess

U.S. Vice President-elect JD Vance has revealed that his shift towards a plant-based diet was significantly influenced by his Indian-American wife, Usha Vance, and her heritage. In a candid conversation on the "Joe Rogan Experience," Vance shared how Indian cuisine introduced him to the richness of vegetarian food.

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“They make very good vegetarian food,” he praised, reflecting on his growing appreciation for dishes like paneer, rice, and chickpeas over artificial meat alternatives.

The Ohio native, who described himself as a "meat and potatoes guy," humorously recounted an early dating experience with Usha. In a bid to impress her, he attempted to prepare a vegetarian meal, resulting in what he admitted was a culinary disaster. “I wanted to make dinner. I wanted to really impress her,” Vance said. His creation, a makeshift "vegetarian pizza," consisted of crescent dough topped with raw broccoli and ranch dressing, baked for 45 minutes. “It was disgusting,” he confessed, drawing laughter.

Despite his inclination toward meat-based meals, Vance expressed a newfound appreciation for genuine vegetarian cuisine, noting, “If you're going vegetarian, go for paneer, rice, delicious chickpeas — do not eat this disgusting fake meat.”

The Vice President-elect’s light-hearted anecdotes highlighted his evolving dietary journey and underscored the impact of Usha’s cultural heritage on his lifestyle choices.

He revealed his thoughts in a conversation with Joe Rogan on the ‘Joe Rogan Experience'