Pav: Indian Dinner Rolls

5 from 1 vote

Make bakery-style, soft and fluffy Pav (Indian dinner rolls) at home with this easy recipe!

Prep Time2 30

Cook Time20

Course: Breads

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: rolls

Calories: 150kcal

Add 1 cup of the 1 and ¼ cup milk into a glass measuring cup and warm it in the microwave. The milk should feel warm to the touch, not hot (about 110 F). Add 2 teaspoon sugar and 2 teaspoon active dry yeast. Whisk to combine and set aside for 5 minutes until foamy and bubbly.

Add 3 cups all purpose flour and ½ teaspoon salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk to combine. Pour the activated yeast mixture and attach the dough hook. Begin mixing the dough with low speed, slowly increasing the speed to medium high and knead for 5 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the mixer bowl and should be smooth.
Add 2 tablespoon butter and knead for another 2-3 minutes at medium-high speed. The butter should be completely incorporated into the dough.

Form the dough into a ball by tucking the sides under it. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size. This will take 1.5 to 2 hours. Where to let dough rise: Any warm corner of your kitchen (75-80°F/24-27°C is ideal). I put the bowl with the dough inside my turned-off oven with the light on. You could also put it near (not on) a warm stove-top.

After the dough has doubled in size, punch the air out and transfer it to a clean countertop or a silicone mat-lined surface. Press it to form a circular disc, then cut it into 12 "pie slices".
Shape each piece by taking a pie slice of dough, cup your hand over it on the counter, and roll in a circular motion to create a smooth ball.
Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter, line with parchment and grease the parchment paper as well. Arrange the 12 rolls in 3 rows of 4, or 4 rows of 3. Cover with a kitchen towel and let the rolls rise for 30 minutes. After this second rise, the rolls should almost touch each other (to make the ladis or rows of pavs). While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Gently brush the tops of risen pav with milk (optional). Place in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Don't over-bake; the sides should stay soft and pale; only the tops should be golden.
As soon as pavs come out of the oven, brush the tops generously with melted butter. This creates that glossy, soft top and adds flavor. Cover with a wet paper towel and let rest for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.

Milk temperature: Milk that's too hot will kill the yeast. Too cold won't activate it. Test the temperature with your finger - it should feel like warm bathwater. If you have a food thermometer, now is the time to use it. The temperature should be around 110 degrees F.
Dough: The dough should be soft and slightly sticky, but not overly wet. If too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time. If too dry, add 1 teaspoon of milk at a time.
Baking the rolls:
- Use the right pan size (9x13" so the rolls touch)
- Don't skip the second rise - this makes them fluffy!
- Brush with milk before baking for a golden color
- Brush with butter immediately after baking and cover with a wet paper towel
- Don't overbake - sides should stay soft and pale