Pav / Ladi Pav (Eggless Dinner Rolls)

This recipe gives light, fluffy, super soft, and delicious Pav, also known as Ladi Pav or Dinner Rolls. They are perfect to be served with dinner or to be used for many Indian dishes!

Making these Eggless Dinner Rolls at home is easy with very few ingredients. Homemade Pav is amazingly fresh compared to store-bought and absolutely delicious!

Jump to:

• About Pav or Ladi Pav
• Why You Will Love Homemade Pav
• Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Directions
• Serving Suggestions
• Storing Suggestions
• Helpful Tips
• More Eggless Bread Recipes
• Recipe Card

About Pav or Ladi Pav

Pav is believed to be introduced by the Portuguese in India, and thus, this word is derived from the Portuguese word ‘Pao’, which means bread.

In India, Pav or Ladi Pav is used for many recipes, such as Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Misal Pav, Masala Pav, and many more.

The recipe is easy to follow and requires only a few ingredients. Because I bake the various bread at home regularly, I always keep the bread flour in my pantry. So I have used bread flour to make these dinner rolls. But you can definitely make them using all-purpose flour.

With this recipe, you will get pillowy soft Pav, and they will stay fresh at room temperature for 3-4 days.

The crucial part of the recipe is yeast. Yeast should be activated in the first step of yeast proofing. If it does not happen, you should start fresh.

Why You Will Love Homemade Pav

• The recipe is easy and straightforward to follow.
• It requires only a few ingredients to make these dinner rolls.
• Pav or Ladi Pav recipe is eggless and vegetarian.
• The dinner rolls are super soft and fluffy.
• Pav can be served with dinner or can be used for many Indian dishes.

Ingredients

1. Bread Flour or All-Purpose Flour: Generally, I keep bread flour in my pantry as I use it often. The difference between bread flour and all-purpose flour is the amount of protein. Bread flour contains more protein, giving a chewier texture to the bread. But using all-purpose flour in bread making will not make any significant difference. So you can use bread or all-purpose flour to make this bread.
2. Butter: We can also add any neutral flavor oil instead of butter. However, butter provides a delicious flavor, so I highly recommend using butter.
3. Sugar: Sugar is essential to activate the yeast, and instead of sugar, you can also add honey.
4. Yeast: I have used active dry yeast to make these dinner rolls, but you can also use instant yeast. With instant yeast, the dough rising time may shorter compare to active dry yeast.
5. Salt: Do not add salt to the yeast mixture; add it only with flour. 
6. Milk: I like to use milk for this recipe as it makes the dinner rolls extra soft, rich, and flavorful. However, you can use warm water instead of milk or use half milk and half water to make the dough.

Step-by-Step Directions

Making The Dough For Pav

• Add warm milk, melted butter, sugar, and yeast in a stand mixer bowl.
• Whisk lightly and loosely cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel.

• Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes or until it is foamy and frothy on the top.

• Add 2 cups flour and salt, and mix on low speed with a dough hook attachment until everything comes together.

• Then add the remaining flour, ¼ cup at a time, and beat on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• If the dough seems too wet and does not come together, add more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until you have a workable dough.
• However, keep in mind that the dough should be soft and smooth, so do not add too much flour.
• Keep the dough in the stand mixer and continue kneading the dough for 4-5 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface for 4-5 minutes.
• After kneading, the dough should still be soft, and when you poke it with a finger, it should slowly bounce back.

First Rise

• Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or non-stick spray (I used the same stand mixer bowl I used to make the dough). 
• Place the dough in the bowl and turn it around to coat all the sides with oil.
• Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. 

• Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size for about 1-1.5 hours.
• In winter, the dough may rise in 80-90 minutes, while in the summer, it may double in 45-60 minutes. 
• If you use instant yeast, the dough will rise earlier than compared to active dry yeast.

Shaping And Proofing

• Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or a baking sheet.
• Once the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air and divide it into 12 equal portions.
• However, you may get more or fewer dough balls if you divide the dough into smaller or larger pieces.

• Hold each dough piece in your hand to shape the rolls and gather all the seams together.
• Pinch the seams at the bottom and place the ball on a clean surface while still holding it in your hand.
• Loosen the grip on the dough ball and roll it in a circular motion into a tight circle again the work surface.
• Once the dough ball becomes tight and smooth, it is ready, and do not overdo it.
• Place the rolls into the prepared pan, seam side down.

• Cover the pan loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough balls rise for about an hour or until they are doubled in size.

Baking The Dinner Rolls

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Brush the top of the dinner roll gently with milk.

• Bake the rolls for 18-22 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

• Remove from the oven and immediately brush the tops with melted butter.

• Remove from the pan and transfer the dinner rolls to the cooling rack.
• Do not keep the Pav in the pan longer; otherwise, they will become soggy.

Serving Suggestions

• You can use the Pav for many Indian dishes, such as Pav Bhaji, Misal Pav, Vada Pav, and many more.
• Ladi Pav can also be used to make Masala Pav, or freshly baked Pav can be served with butter and jam.
• Serve these eggless dinner rolls with soup or stew.

Storing Suggestions

• Pav or Dinner Rolls will stay at room temperature, tightly covered, for 3 days. The leftovers can be refrigerated for up to a week.
• These dinner rolls can freeze for up to a month. Once they are completely cooled down, place them in a freezer bag or container and then freeze.

Helpful Tips

• Measuring: Measure all the ingredients beforehand and use a kitchen scale if you have one for the best results.
• Milk: The milk should be warm (about 110°F or 45°C) and not hot. Hot milk will kill the yeast, and cold milk will not activate the yeast.
• Yeast Proofing: The first step is yeast proofing by mixing milk, sugar, butter, and yeast and allowing it to rest for 10 minutes. This mixture should be frothy and bubbly. If this does not happen to your mixture, the yeast is inactive, or the milk is hot or cold. 
• Salt: Always add salt with flour; otherwise, it may inactivate the yeast.
• Dough: The dough should be soft and well-hydrated for the super soft and fluffy dinner rolls. So after adding 3 cups of flour, add more flour if the dough is sticky and does not come together. However, add more flour, one tablespoon at a time, and avoid adding too much flour.
• Kneading: Kneading is vital in making bread. Once the dough comes together, continue kneading the dough in a stand mixer for 4-5 minutes. Or you can also transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead with your hands for 4-5 minutes.

More Eggless Bread Recipes

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• Whole Wheat Kulcha Without Yeast
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