Emirates will offer a special menu for Onam, the harvest festival celebrated in Kerala, to its customers across all classes. The airline announced that passengers can expect traditional appetisers such as sharkara upperi (banana roasted in sweet jaggery), kaya varuthathu (crisp banana chips), and kondattam mulaku (fried sundried chillies steeped in yoghurt). A selection of dips including kaalan made with coconut, fresh yoghurt and yam, cucumber pachadi, and puli inji—a ginger-based chutney—will also be served. First and Business Class travellers will receive additional items like Kerala-style pappadam and mango pickle.
Main course options will include alleppey kozhi curry—spiced chicken in coconut sauce with avial, chemba rice, and cabbage carrot thoran—or vegetarian sadhya featuring sambar, kootu, matta rice, and carrot pea thoran. Other dishes available are nadan kozhi kari (pan-fried chicken with coconut and spices), steamed rice with carrot pea thoran and vegetable kootu, or padavalanga thoran paired with chemba rice, erissery, and bean thoran. First Class customers can opt for Kerala-style chicken stew.
Desserts on the menu include palada pradhaman (creamy rice pudding topped with roasted pistachios, raisins, and cashew nuts) or parippu payasam (sweet lentil pudding garnished with roasted coconut flakes). Meals will be presented on banana leaf dish liners to reflect the traditional way of serving sadhya during Onam.