WHY would there be dairy in rice, and bread?

[plantsandwich]

Planning a trip to London and was looking at some restaurants near where I'll be staying. I'm vegan, my trip partner isn't, needed to look at some options that'll cater for both of us.

Found a Turkish restaurant that I thought looked fab-Turkish and Greek food is usually a safe bet. Nothing on the menu labelled vegan, but still this isn't always the case and I figured I couldn't go far wrong with stuffed vine leaves containing onion, herbs and rice, a hummus and bread starter, Imam Bayildi, Okra Stew, vegetable Stew-all of the last three are mains and all served with rice and none had any dairy or egg element to them.

I did however email them to ask to book a table, and I mentioned that I was vegan and had chosen them for this reason.

I had a very polite email back with a list of vegan options on it however of those three mains, I would have to have them with salad instead of rice as 'our rice contains dairy' and I couldn't have the bread with the hummus starter either-they didn't specify why, just said 'Hummus starter' (with carrot and cucumber instead of rice). The vine leaves weren't on the list either, I assume because of the rice/dairy issue.

One issue with this is WHY? Breads don't need to contain milk (unless sourdough/soda bread which this is not!) and WHY is there dairy in rice?Rice is literally a natural grain? How would dairy end up in it?

My other issue is, salad is NOT a substitute for rice. Rice is a carb. It adds sustenance to a meal, salad does not do that. Vegans aren't rabbits...
This is why I end up eating in chains a lot of the time, even though ethically I'd love to support local businesses more.

Not great for people with allergies or intolerances either-they could be forgiven for not checking if rice has dairy in it.

Went back to the drawing board and found an Italian restaurant that caters fully for vegans so that's that I guess.

Turkish rice recipes often bitter and Turkish breads are often made with yoghurt. There’s no “reason”, it’s just traditional to the cuisine.

A lot of flatbread type breads are made with yoghurt

*often contain butter, that should read.

They might fry the rice in ghee / clarified butter before adding stock. I know I do for some rice dishes.

Maybe rice had some butter added to it during cooking?
Bread would have yeast which, traditionally, would be mixed with warm milk before adding to flour.

Many rice dishes have butter in them, and flat breads often have Yoghurt.

I do feel for you though - I've just had a day out and there wasn't a single thing I could eat (I'm gluten free). Not even the chips which are usually a safe choice!

Lots of flatbreads are made with yoghurt. The rice could have coconut milk or something in it for flavour/texture.

Coconut milk isn't dairy.

I've reported my post as I didn't mean to link the restaurant-I'd copied the mains dishes (to make sure I spelt them correctly!) and somehow that meant I linked it!

Thank you for the replies. I understand.

There are two Turkish/greek restaurants near me and neither of them do as described-they both have a 've' sign next to their vine leaves, rice is fine too etc. Was really surprising.

There are tons of different types of bread made with an enriched dough with either egg or milk. Flatbreads, brioche etc.

Coconuts aren't dairy.

Dairy is why rice always tastes nicer when out! I don't do it at home as it seems a faff.

I was reading @margotrose 's post as to be saying 'They could use coconut milk as a substitute for milk' but I see that that's probably not the case, now!

I didn't think of brioche but then I think the concept of it sounds gross. I remember when everyone was complaining that restaurants had started using it for burger buns and it was too sweet.

Flavourings, things cooked in butter, etc

My children have allergies and I literally check the ingredients of everything, no matter how unlikely it is they might have their allergens in.

For instance apparently kiwi is often used to help tenderise meat

And yes dairy is in all sorts of flavourings.

Yes, I didn't mean to write coconut - I'm watching Death in Paradise and must have got distracted

Cancel the booking and go to Mildred's, several in London 😍

Given the rise of children with dairy allergies (and fatal allergies particularly - milk is now the most common cause of a fatal reaction) I wonder if restaurants catering for the next generation will start to use dairy more cautiously.

If your partner is willing to try a plant based place that is

Because it tastes better.

I am trying to google how exactly you'd put milk/dairy into rice now. I understand it is cultural.

I still feel a bit insulted at them suggesting salad as a decent rice substitute in a main course that'd never happen in any other situation.

'Sorry Ma'am, we've run out of baked potatoes so we've given you some lettuce instead'.

'Sorry love, your curry should come with rice but It's gone off so we've given you a side salad'.

'Yes I know you ordered mashed potato but we accidentally contaminated it with something so here's some salad instead'.

It doesn't work

Turkish and Indian / Pakistani rice contains butter. Most flatbread is either leavened with dairy or has dairy spread on it. If you want vegan stick to Indian restaurants and ask for plain boiled rice without butter & roti without butter.

The person I'm going with hates indian food otherwise that would be one of my first choices there's a fantastic one in my local village that I spend far too much money in on a regular basis.

I'd love to go to Mildred's! But I don't think the person I am going with would if I'm honest.

@margotrose not just me who substitutes and random word that fell into my head, then 😅

The teenie tinies will be here soon to tell you that's how it should be as carbs are the devil.

@plantsandwich
I quite often put milk-fresh or dried-in bread. I also make a wonderful flatbread made of flour and yoghurt only. I suspect that's what a Turkish restaurant might make. Also, watch out for burgers- the brioche type buns will often have milk or butter. And the stuffed vine leaves mightn't often have butter or cheese in the rice. I'll stop now!