As the demand for plant-based meals continues to rise globally, Emirates is leading the charge in providing refined vegan cuisine to passengers across the globe. With an increasing number of vegan customers and many non-vegan passengers opting for vegan meals for their lighter, easily digestible qualities, Emirates is working diligently to expand its offerings. The airline is continuously innovating with new ingredients and curating more options, such as lookalike egg substitutes made from legumes and vegan meals tailored for children, to enhance the travel experience for all passengers.
Innovating Vegan Cuisine with Cutting-Edge Ingredients
In celebration of Veganuary, a movement that has highlighted the benefits of a vegan diet for over a decade, Emirates’ chefs gathered at the Emirates Flight Catering Concept Development Kitchen to explore and experiment with the latest plant-based ingredients. The workshop led to the creation of exciting dishes, including a spicy shakshuka sauce paired with a new solid egg substitute, and savory vegan cannelloni made from a premade vegan pastry sheet. Chefs also evaluated the high-quality products already offered onboard, further refining Emirates’ vegan menu.
The airline now boasts over 300 vegan recipes, available on flights to more than 140 destinations worldwide. Its extensive menu features plant-based products sourced from global suppliers, including Beyond Meat, Arlene, Qian Ye, and Koita, among others. In addition to high-quality ingredients, Emirates emphasizes sustainability by integrating produce from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm, which supplies pesticide-free greens directly to the airline’s catering facilities.
Vegan Meals for Kids and Customizable Options
In its ongoing commitment to culinary excellence, Emirates has introduced vegan meals specifically designed for children. These meals include fun and delicious options like vegan pizza, sweet and sour vegetable casserole, and cauliflower bites with sweet sauce, offering younger passengers healthy and appealing plant-based alternatives.
Customers can easily order vegan meals when booking their flights or pre-order up to 24 hours before departure. Additionally, vegan meals are available in all Emirates Lounges and are sometimes included in the main menu options on high-demand routes.
Vegan Cuisine Across All Cabin Classes
Serving over 400,000 plant-based meals annually, Emirates offers vegan dishes across all cabin classes. In Economy class, passengers can enjoy tasty options like crêpes filled with sautéed carrots and peppers, curried vegetable puffs, and chocolate mousse cake. In Premium Economy, travelers can indulge in braised mushrooms with vegetables in five-spice soy sauce and a decadent raspberry tonka mousse cake.
Business class passengers are treated to elegant dishes such as Thai red curry tofu with aubergine and steamed jasmine rice, while First Class offers elevated options like creamy polenta cake with thyme mushroom ragout or aubergine curry with charred rice. Desserts in First Class feature sophisticated contrasts, such as rhubarb strawberry charlotte with Chantilly cream or warm chocolate fondant with salted caramel sauce.
Vegan Offerings in Emirates Lounges
At Dubai International Airport, Emirates offers a wide range of vegan dishes in its exclusive lounges. In the Business Class Lounge, passengers can enjoy soya and pea protein crispy pops, while First Class travelers can indulge in an à la carte breakfast of warm amaranth porridge with fresh fruits. The most popular vegan dish in the lounges is the Emirates Green Burger – a soya and flaxseed patty with signature sauce and pickled cucumbers, providing a satisfying and nutritious option for guests.
With a growing number of vegan customers worldwide, Emirates continues to expand its innovative plant-based offerings, ensuring that passengers from all walks of life can enjoy exceptional cuisine while traveling.
