Emirates reports a 154% rise in vegan dinners year over year when Veganuary begins in 2023

January 11th, 2023

There has never been a better time to introspect and contemplate going vegan than the month of Veganuary. The idea of "Veganuary," a month-long movement promoting the vegan diet, has gained popularity among the general public since its inception in the UK in 2014. But what’s heartening is that over 280,000 plant-based meals were consumed in the previous year, and Emirates has observed a 154% growth in vegan meals offered onboard between 2021 and 2022. For a more in depth look at the significance of this news, we take you on a journey across the airline’s history of dishing up plant-based fare for their passengers.

Emirates served fliers vegan meals since the 1990s

Few people are aware that in fact, Emirates has served vegan meals since the 1990s and currently provides more than 180 options for customers seeking a nutritious lunch while travelling. Initially, vegan options were concentrated on particular routes, like Addis Abeba, where persons who practise the Ethiopian religion are compelled to consume vegan meals at various times of the year. There was also the Indian subcontinent, where a variety of religions support a plant-based diet. However, in recent years, vegan cuisine has rapidly grown in favour on US, Australian, several European, and UK routes. According to Emirates, this popularity has increased significantly during the previous ten years. Beirut, Cairo, and Taiwan are among the regions where interest in vegan food has recently increased.

Image Source: Unsplash

The most popular plant-based dishes

Popular vegan dishes currently served in Economy Class include a creamy spinach and avocado mousseline with marinated tofu, blanched snow peas, radish, asparagus, pomegranate seeds, courgette ribbon, and sriracha oil; colourful quinoa with delectable caramelised pear and celeriac purée, roasted cauliflower, glazed carrots, sautéed kale, and lovage pesto; and the hearty flavours of barley risotto. Furthermore, over 195,000 vegan desserts were served in 2022 across all travel classes. These delectable desserts included tempting options like a dark chocolate custard cake balanced by fruity, fresh strawberries, a tart lemon tart with a hint of coconut cream, and a rich chocolate tofu cheesecake paired with strawberry coulis.

The presence of premium healthy components

The advantages of plant-powered products are gaining popularity with health-conscious consumers who may not identify as vegans but occasionally select lighter options to fit into their lifestyle. Since chickpea flour is gluten-free and naturally aerates foods like crepes and omelettes to an enticing fluffy texture, it is used aboard Emirates flights as an alternative to traditional products like white flour. Coconut or vegetable-based cream is substituted for full-fat dairy cream, coconut butter or margarine for dairy butter, and coconut and flaxseed oils are used in place of vegetable oil since they are healthier and have a higher smoke point while still adding flavour to food.

In addition, a variety of superfoods are used in the recipes, such as black and white quinoa seeds, which lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Image Source: Unsplash

Know more about Emirates' support of vegan food

Emirates invested in creating a new First and Business Class vegan menu in 2022 to compete with renowned restaurants. Emirates is already consistently recognised as the best airline for vegan travellers by various specialised website polls. It spent a year in development at Emirates Flight Catering, a sizable facility located at Dubai International Airport, which employs 11,000 people and serves up to 225,000 meals per day, making it the largest flight catering facility in the world. Emirates Flight Catering has international chefs from 69 different countries, and it has a large kitchen. Expert chefs from Emirates Flight Catering collaborated closely with nutritionists to discover elements from well-known dishes that might be converted into vegan options without sacrificing flavour.

Additionally, they concentrated on combining flavours and products from other cultures to develop a menu that will appeal to all network passengers, not only vegan clients. In order to generate a comprehensive range of flavours and textures, the menu was the subject of numerous presentations and tastings. Contributions came from speciality chefs that specialise in Chinese, Indian, and Arabic cuisine. To guarantee an inclusive approach, the tasting panels featured chefs and team members who were both vegan and non-vegan.

The new vegan menu in First and Business Class

Vegan meals served on Emirates flights are stocked with fresh produce from the UAE, including Bustanica's Bustanica lettuce and fresh, locally grown kale. The largest hydroponic vertical farm in the world is called Bustanica, and Emirates Flight Catering invested US$40 million in the joint venture. Moreover, Fliers should be aware that the Bustanica food is farmed without pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals. First and Business Class passengers can enjoy farm-fresh leafy greens in some dishes, including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach.

The innovative koftas on the new vegan menu in First and Business Class are produced with plant-based ingredients from the renowned Beyond meat brand. Organic dark chocolate with 60% raw cocoa components, imported from the Dominican Republic, has been used to make vegan treats.

Image Source: Unsplash

Enhancing the flavours of vegan food

Emirates' vegan menu features a tempting selection of colourful and healthy options with an emphasis on freshness, vibrancy of taste, and satiety, such as heirloom cherry tomato tofu with edamame and roasted sesame, mushroom ragout with thyme, fresh Hass avocado and mango salad timbale, or kale and cranberry salad served on a bed of grilled sweet potato. Vegan dinners are gently garnished with farm-fresh herbs, berries, and colourful jus, while several of the new vegan desserts are coated with thin sheets of real gold leaf, ensuring that the delectable and healthy dishes are also edible to the eye. The award-winning chefs at Emirates ensure that vegetable flavours are maximised in dishes by deftly utilising textures and infusions to create the crucial umami effect. As it cooks out with a meaty texture, jackfruit, a fibrous tree fruit from southwest India, serves as the centrepiece of several vegan cuisines.

An excellent complement to vegan food, kohlrabi is a Northern European mix between cabbage and a turnip. It has a mild flavour that readily takes on the flavours it is marinated in or cooked with. The irresistible tofu, cauliflower steak, and other nuts and legumes round out the list of essential elements that make a dish moreish.

The matter of accessibility

In 2022, First and Business Class passengers could choose from a brand-new gourmet vegan menu that featured dishes selected by chefs like pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, jackfruit biryani, sliced kohlrabi, and burnt oranges as well as desserts like chocolate truffle cake with hazelnut, pistachio, and gold leaf and green grape tart with candied rose petals, vanilla custard, and berry compote sparkling with yuzu pearls. Now, all Emirates flights and all grades of travel allow customers to request vegan meals up to 24 hours before departure. However, on routes with strong demand, plant-based meals are also offered as one of the primary menu selections.