New York City, NY, USA: Padma Lakshmi, the Indian-American television host and author, has come under fire after stating in a recent interview that apple pie should not be considered an American dessert. Speaking with The New York Times ahead of the launch of her CBS cooking show, which will air just before Thanksgiving, Lakshmi explained that the ingredients and traditions behind apple pie originate from other countries.
“Apple pie isn’t American—not the crust, not the filling, not the spices,” Lakshmi told the newspaper while discussing her show.
This is not the first time Lakshmi has expressed this viewpoint. In a 2020 interview with Variety, she highlighted that the dessert contains no ingredients native to North America. “We often say, ‘nothing’s as American as apple pie.’ But in reality, apple pie is not American,” she stated. She added, “Not a single ingredient in apple pie is indigenous to North America—not even the apple itself.”
Lakshmi emphasised that many foods regarded as quintessentially American actually come from immigrant traditions and imported ingredients. To make her point, she joked that a diet limited strictly to native American foods would mainly consist of “desert packrat and ramps,” referencing a desert rodent and a wild vegetable.
Having moved to the United States from India as a child, Lakshmi also expressed gratitude for the opportunities she and her family found in America, while stressing that immigrants have played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s success.
Public Reaction
Her comments quickly sparked reactions on X, where some users criticised her statements. One user remarked, “She seems to be an important person.” Others acknowledged that while apple pie has European roots, Americans have refined the dish over time.
Another commentator said, “Do we really need to debate this? Apple pie has always been a part of our culture, even with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.” Others responded, “Come on, give Americans a break,” or pointed out that her name suggests she is American too.
