Soft Pav Indian Dinner Rolls Recipe
Pav, the iconic Indian dinner rolls, are soft, pillowy, and perfect for creating some of India’s most beloved snacks. Whether paired with spicy potato fritters in Vada Pav, dipped in flavorful curries, or served alongside a cup of strong Indian tea, Pav is an essential part of Indian cuisine.
In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make eggless Pav dinner rolls that are soft, tender, and stay fresh for days. Using basic pantry ingredients and traditional techniques, you can recreate these fluffy delights in your own kitchen.
What is Pav?
Pav is the Indian version of dinner rolls, widely used in snacks like Vada Pav, Pav Bhaji, and Misal Pav. Unlike Western dinner rolls, Pav is typically made without eggs, relying on milk and butter to achieve its softness. These rolls are slightly denser, allowing them to soak up chutneys, curries, or sauces without falling apart.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Eggless and vegetarian: Perfect for those avoiding eggs but still looking for soft, fluffy rolls.
- Versatile: Use Pav to create iconic Indian dishes or serve them as dinner rolls.
- Long-lasting softness: These rolls stay fresh for up to three days.
- Authentic Indian flavor: A must-try for lovers of Indian cuisine.
Ingredients for Pav Dinner Rolls
To make the perfect Pav, gather these simple ingredients:
- Warm water: Aids in activating the yeast and kneading the dough.
- All-purpose flour: The base of these fluffy rolls.
- Yeast: Use active dry yeast or instant yeast (ensure it’s not expired for the best results).
- Milk: Essential for achieving that soft and tender texture.
- Butter: Adds flavor and helps keep the rolls moist.
- Oil: Locks in moisture and contributes to the fluffiness.
- Sugar and salt: For flavor balance.
How to Make Soft Pav (Indian Dinner Rolls)
Step 1: Activate the yeast
- Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy. This step ensures the yeast is active.
Step 2: Make the dough
- In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, milk, butter, and oil. Gradually add the activated yeast mixture. Knead for 8–10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Step 3: First rise
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours or until doubled in size.
Step 4: Shape the Pav
- Punch down the dough and divide it into equal portions. Shape each portion into a smooth ball and arrange them in a greased baking tray, leaving slight gaps for expansion.
Step 5: Second rise
- Cover and let the shaped rolls rise for another 20–30 minutes until slightly puffed.
Step 6: Bake
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the Pav for 13–15 minutes or until golden brown on top. Brush the rolls with melted butter immediately after baking for a glossy finish.
Pro Tips for Perfect Pav
- Kneading is key: Spend enough time kneading to develop gluten for soft, elastic rolls.
- Check your yeast: Ensure it’s active; expired yeast will result in flat, dense rolls.
- Milk matters: Full-fat milk works best for a soft texture.
- Don’t rush the rise: Proper proofing is crucial for light and fluffy rolls.
- Butter for shine: Brushing butter after baking keeps the Pav soft and adds flavor.
Serving Suggestions for Pav
- Simple sides: Enjoy with butter, jam, or strong chai for a light snack.
- Vada Pav: Stuff these rolls with spicy potato fritters and chutneys for the ultimate street food snack.
- Pav Bhaji: Serve with spicy mashed vegetable curry topped with butter.
- Misal Pav: Pair with sprouted lentil curry for a traditional Maharashtrian meal.
FAQs
Yes, but the texture will be denser. Consider using a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour.
This could be due to inactive yeast, insufficient kneading, or a cold proofing environment.
Yes, you can add one egg for a richer flavor and softer texture. Adjust the liquid content accordingly.
Why This Recipe is a Must-Try
This Pav Indian Dinner Rolls recipe is perfect for anyone looking to bring authentic Indian flavors into their kitchen. With simple ingredients, clear instructions, and guaranteed results, you’ll have soft, fluffy rolls that complement a variety of dishes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, this recipe is a winner.
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⭐ PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW
If you have tried this Pav Recipe and liked it, please give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!
Pav Indian Dinner Rolls and is Egg Free
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose- flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon yeast
- 5 tablespoon warm milk
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 tablespoon milk to brush the rolls before baking
Instructions
- **The first step is to ensure that the yeast is live, you can skip it if you are sure that your yeast didn’t expire.
- In a small bowl, add the water, milk, and sugar. Mix until the sugar dissolves. Add the yeast and mix until the yeast dissolves. Cover the previous mixture and leave in warm place for ten minutes. If the yeast is good to use, the yeast will create a froth, and you are good to proceed with the next step.
- In a big bowl, add the flour, salt, and oil. Mix the previous ingredients with your hands until combined.
- Gradually add the yeast mixture to the flour while mixing. You should get a slightly sticky dough.
- Knead the dough for ten minutes, and now the dough should feel smooth and easy to form.
- Add the butter to the dough and keep on kneading until you get a silky and smooth dough. Initially, the dough will feel sticky and a little difficult to work with but continue kneading, and it will come together just fine.
- Cover the dough, and place in a warm place for one and a half to two hours until it doubles in volume.
- Knead the dough for few seconds to release some of the gas created by the yeast . Cut the dough into ten equal size pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place in a greased baking pan. You can use any shape of baking pans but make sure that you keep two-inch space between each ball.
- Cover the baking pan and place in a warm place. Allow the rolls to rise for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350F/180C.
- Brush the rolls with milk and bake for 13 minutes on the middle shelf.
- Take out the rolls from the oven and let it cool for 8 minutes in the pan and then allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Notes
- Since flour manufacturing companies differ, you may need to add less or more liquid while kneading, hence gradually add the liquid to the flour.
- If you are using salted butter, then do not add salt to the flour.
- Developing gluten may take time so only add more flour if the dough stayed sticky after 6 minutes of kneading.
- To make bigger size rolls, increase the baking time to 3 to 4 more minutes.
- Some ovens do not distribute heat evenly. Therefore the bread rolls may not turn brown while baking. After the baking, turn on the broiler to give the golden brown color to the surface.
The pav looks awesome.. thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.. hey did you use instant dry yeast??
Hi Shibani, Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 … I have used dry active yeast but you can use instant too using the measurement!
These rolls look so fluffy and delicious!
Thanks Natalie 🙂