Emirates Expands Vegan Menu with Innovative Plant-Based Dishes

As veganism continues to rise globally, Emirates is expanding its plant-based menu with a new array of ingredients and specially crafted dishes.

The Dubai-based crrier is enhancing its plant-based culinary offerings by introducing new meals that align with evolving global trends. Whether for ethical reasons, dietary preferences, or simply a desire for lighter meal options, more travelers are choosing plant-based meals. In response, Emirates has announced an improvement of its culinary selection across all classes and lounges.

Vegan Innovation

To mark Veganuary, the airline’s expert chefs came together in the Emirates Flight Catering Concept Development Kitchen to experiment with new vegan ingredients and refine existing dishes.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

According to Emirates, among the latest additions is a solid egg substitute made entirely from legumes, designed to replicate the taste and texture of traditional eggs. This innovation features dishes like spicy shakshuka.

Another new addition is a premade vegan pastry sheet, which creates savory cannelloni and further expands the airline’s extensive plant-based offerings. As noted by Emirates, these new offerings complement its extensive repertoire of more than 300 vegan recipes served across its global network of 140 destinations.

Ingredients and Sustainability

By partnering with renowned suppliers, Emirates claims it uses sustainably sourced, premium ingredients in its vegan meals. These include high-quality plant-based products such as Beyond Meat proteins from California, pressed tofu from Qian Ye in Japan, and vegan dark chocolate from Linnolat in France.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

Fresh, pesticide-free produce is sourced from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm, ensuring high-quality greens like lettuce, arugula, and spinach.

Recognizing the growing demand for dairy alternatives, Emirates has introduced individual vegan milk servings in Economy and Premium Economy, with over 30,000 passengers opting for these non-dairy options each month.

Vegan Meals for Young Travelers

Emirates has taken a significant step forward by introducing dedicated vegan meals for children, offering a delightful array of options such as vegan pizza, sweet and sour vegetable casserole, vegetable fajitas, cauliflower bites with a sweet sauce, and desserts like strawberry crumble and vegan chocolate pudding.

This thoughtful initiative ensures that young travelers with dietary preferences or restrictions can savor delicious and nutritious meals crafted just for them, making every journey a more fulfilling experience.

Options Across All Cabins

Emirates has enhanced its plant-based menus across all cabins, serving passengers with over 400,000 vegan dishes served annually in every cabin class.

The airline’s regional offerings focus on regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, where demand for plant-based products continues to soar.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

In Economy Class, guests can be treated to dish of crêpes stuffed with sautéed carrots and vibrant peppers, elegantly accompanied by roasted potatoes and a fresh tomato concassé. Another offering includes curried vegetable puffs, decadent chocolate mousse cake, and a tangy blackberry crumble.

Premium Economy elevates the experience with braised mushrooms and assorted vegetables infused with five-spice soy sauce, served alongside fluffy jasmine rice and crisp pak choi. For dessert, passengers can indulge in a raspberry tonka mousse cake drizzled with luscious berry coulis.

Photo: Airbus A350-900 Premium Economy. Courtesy of Emirates

In Business Class, the culinary offering features a sumptuous Thai red curry tofu, aubergine, and mushrooms enveloped in aromatic gravy, served over jasmine rice. Sweet indulgences abound with tropical coconut pineapple cake and rich chocolate pecan cake.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

Lastly, in First Class, passengers can enjoy a creamy polenta cake enriched with a savory thyme mushroom ragout, followed by a fragrant aubergine curry accompanied by charred rice. To satisfy sweet cravings, desserts include a delightful rhubarb and strawberry charlotte crowned with Chantilly cream, and a warm chocolate fondant drizzled with salted caramel sauce.

Vegan Options in Lounges

In addition to in-flight dining, Emirates offers a variety of vegan options in its lounges at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. Passengers can indulge in soya and pea protein crispy pops available at the Business Class Lounge Snack Counter, and enjoy baharat and turmeric-spiced kofta served in a rich coconut gravy at the buffet.

Photo: Emirates Lounge. Courtesy of Dubai International Airport

In the First Class Lounge, they can savor warm amaranth porridge topped with compressed green apples, red grapes, raspberries, and walnuts. Another highlight is the popular Emirates Green Burger, made from soya and flaxseed, and garnished with a signature sauce and pickled cucumbers.

For nearly a decade, Emirates has catered to vegan cabin crew members, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and sustainability. With an ever-growing selection of high-quality vegan meals, Emirates continues to set the standard for plant-based dining in the aviation industry, ensuring travelers can enjoy flavorful, nutritious meals wherever they fly.