Could eating in-flight vegan meals actually go towards carbon-offsetting air travel?
That’s not as fanciful as it sounds. According to this year’s IPCC report, switching to more plant-based meals can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Not to mention being better for your health.
And with Emirates’ new mouth-watering vegan offerings in first class, business class, premium economy and economy, it’s never been easier to go vegan, even if only for the duration of your flight.
To be fair, Emirates, which has been serving in-flight vegan meals since the 1990s, has an advantage over some other airlines when it comes to the sustainable sourcing of organic leafy greens in particular.
The hi-tech hydroponic vertical farm Bustanica, a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering and vertical farming specialist Crop One, is right near Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport. It’s also the largest such facility in the world.
And Emirates Flight Catering has 11,000 employees, including chefs from all around the world (69 different nationalities, in fact).
According to a spokesperson: “Vegan options onboard Emirates are nutrient-dense and rich in greens, fruits, and vegetables, sourced from several UAE-based suppliers including fresh locally grown kale, heirloom cherry tomatoes, salad leaves and herbs from Bustanica.
“All passengers on Emirates will be served delicious leafy greens, including lettuces, arugula (rocket), mixed salad greens, and spinach directly from Bustanica, with plans for even more fruit and vegetables to be farmed in the future.”
Other healthy ingredients include chickpea flour, tofu, coconut or vegetable-based cream, coconut and flaxseed oil, and black and white quinoa seeds. Vegan desserts use organic dark chocolate with 60 percent raw cocoa.
A response to the increasing demand for vegan cuisine, Emirates’ new menus are also available in Emirates Lounges, and feature an extraordinary range of healthy eating options.
Economy class vegan menus are refreshed monthly, but the meals must be pre-ordered. According to Emirates, passenger favorites include:
- A “creamy” spinach and avocado mousseline, with marinated tofu, blanched snow peas, radish, asparagus, pomegranate seeds, courgette ribbon and sriracha oil.
- A multicolored quinoa with succulent caramelised pear and celeriac purée, roasted cauliflower, glazed carrots, sautéed kale and lovage pesto.
- Barley risotto with mushrooms, served with sundried tomatoes, buttered chestnuts, blanched broccolini and toasted pumpkin seeds.
- For dessert, a dark chocolate custard cake balanced by fresh, juicy strawberries.
- A zesty lemon tart lightly laced with coconut cream.
- A rich chocolate tofu cheesecake complemented by a sweet strawberry compote.
First and business classes can enjoy delicacies like koftas using plant-based products from the Beyond Meat company and Barakat’s vitality juices “packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, with no added sugar, additives, or preservatives”.
Then there is the heirloom cherry tomato tofu with edamame and roasted sesame seeds, thyme-scented mushroom ragout, fresh Hass avocado and mango salad timbale. Another standout is the kale and cranberry salad served on a bed of grilled sweet potatoes.
Of course, Emirates is not the only airline offering excellent vegan options on their in-flight menus. Etihad and Qatar Airways also have solid reputations for fine vegan dining, while Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand are very good, too.
So even if you’re not vegan, do your health and the environment a favor and enhance your air travel experience by giving it a go. You might be surprised.
.