'Paneer, Rice, Chickpeas': JD Vance Praises Indian Vegetarian Food, Thanks to Wife’s Influence

During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, U.S. Senator and Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance expressed his newfound appreciation for Indian vegetarian food, crediting his Indian-American wife, Usha Vance, for introducing him to the cuisine. In a three-hour conversation with Joe Rogan, they both discussed the downsides of processed meats, which Rogan called ‘highly processed garbage.’  Vance couldn't stop himself telling about the benefits of Indian Vegetarian Food and how delicious the cuisines are. 

"If you want to eat vegetables and be vegetarian, eat Indian food. They make really delicious vegetarian food," Rogan noted during the discussion.

Skip Nasty Meat and Eat Paneer: JD Vance 

The Ohio senator’s introduction to Indian cuisine is largely due to his wife Usha’s Indian heritage. He thanked his wife on the podcast for introducing him to Indian vegetarian food. “My wife is Indian-American, and the vegetarian food she makes is exceptional,” Vance said, sharing how she has inspired him to embrace Indian vegetarian options. "My wife is Indian-American, and the vegetarian food she makes is exceptional," he said.

"For any vegetarian out there, indulge in paneer, rice, and chickpeas. Skip the nasty fake meat. If you want to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle, turn to Indian cuisine. It offers wonderful vegetarian options," Vance added, advocating for Indian vegetarian dishes.

Vance also shared a humorous memory about trying to impress Usha early in their relationship with a homemade vegetarian dish that didn’t quite go as planned.

At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee earlier this year, Usha Vance revealed that her husband had not only adopted her vegetarian diet but had also learned to cook Indian dishes with help from her mother, smoothly blending into her family’s culture and food traditions.