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Soft, Light, Fluffy and Rich; these Ladi pav aka homemade dinner rolls are so addictive that you would keep coming back for more.
This ladi pav recipe post has got you covered with 5 mistakes that you probably are making that ruins your homemade pav experience.
Who doesn't love the aroma of a freshly baked bread?
What is Ladi Pav?
Ladi literally means a group or in continuity and Pav refers to Bread in Hindi.
So to put it simply Ladi Pav in English means a group or a row of bread stacked adjacent to each other similar to the Dinner Rolls in the US.
The only difference being the former is much lighter and less sweeter than its US counterparts.
And this Dinner Rolls recipe is such a basic one that you would end up making it every other week.. psst.. psst.. these are Eggless too but bet you no one would ever know 😉
Ingredients needed:
Ingredients notes:
- Milk Powder: Also retailed as Powdered Milk, acts as an enrichment in this recipe. Use unsweetened full fat milk powder.
- Yeast: I recommend using Instant Yeast as it can be directly added to the flour. However you can also use Active Dry Yeast, just make sure to activate it before proceeding. If using Fresh Yeast use three times the amount of what the recipe calls for.
- Milk: Water can be substituted for milk. Or Milk and Water can be used in the 50:50 ratio.
Step by Step Tutorial:
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Onto a mixing bowl, add the salt, flour, milk powder, sugar and yeast. Give a quick mix using a spatula. (Pic 1-5)
Ok finally to bind everything into a dough today we will be using Luke Warm Milk (pic 6).
I have made this recipe with just water and also water and milk in 50 50 ratio and it turns good every time so you can use any liquid but I would recommend milk here.
At some point you will have to ditch the spatula and switch over to your hands to combine everything into a dough and then transfer to your work top to knead it.
Remember we have not added any butter as of now and that is the reason you might find the dough to be a bit dry so you can add additional 1 to 2 tbsp of milk to combine it into a dough.
Transfer the dough on to a lightly dusted worktop (image 7).
And start kneading the dough (image 8). Click here to watch the right way of kneading a bread dough.
So after about 10 mins we would be adding butter (image 9). The butter should be soft that way it would be easier to incorporate it into the dough.
This technique is known as Delayed Fat Method - Find the detailed explanation of the same in my Bread Baking Queries video.
Once you add the butter it would be a little messy Job to knead the dough but keep kneading and in another 5 to 10 mins you will observe the bread coming together.
The final consistency of the dough should be tacky and it should feel moist and hydrated.
You may have to add additional few tbsp of lukewarm milk to get that moist dough.
It is fairly easy to knead the dough in a Stand mixer.
How to knead the dough using Stand Mixer?
Add the dry ingredients - Salt, Flour, Milk Powder, Yeast and Sugar. Finally add the milk and knead everything into a dough for 6 mins (image a).
Next add the butter (image 4) and knead for another 4 mins. If need be add in additional few tbsp of milk and knead.
When you lift the dough hook of your stand mixer, a blob of dough should be sticking to the base of your bowl (image c).
Step 2 - First Proofing
Oil the bowl in which you kneaded the dough and then transfer the prepared dough into it (image 10).
Cover it with a tea towel or cling wrap and allow it to proof for 1.5 hour on your counter top until it is doubled in volume (image 11).
How to Proof Dough in the Instant Pot?
Alternatively, you can also proof the dough in your instant pot. I own an Instant Pot Duo 6 plus and love it.
Proofing dough in the Instant Pot has become my favourite hack!!
I have written an entire blog post on can you proof dough in the instant pot? Do check it for a detailed instructions.
For now,
Simply oil the inner pot of your instant pot or place a parchment paper.
Place the dough into it (Image d).
Close the lid. Choose yogurt mode and set the timer to 45 mins(image e).
Step 3: Shaping
Ok so After proofing punch down the dough to release the gases and take it out. At this stage you can weigh the total volume of the dough and divide it evenly to get 16 pav buns or you can eye ball and simply divide it into 16 balls too.
However, to get an even shape and size I always and always like to weigh my dough.
I recommend you guys to invest in a measuring scale (have been using mine for 4 years now and still going strong) and then divide the dough into 16 balls.
From this recipe you can make 12 to 16 balls depending upon the size of your baking pan.
This step is the key to make good ladi pavs which so many of you commit a mistake in.
Let me teach you how to shape ladi pavs. The same technique applies to making dinner rolls or crusty rolls or milk buns.
So you take the dough that you weighed first. Tuck the sides beneath (image g) and observe how I am holding my hands enclosing the dough - thumb from one end (image h) and fingers on the other. (image i)
Then you push with your thumb (image j) and roll with your fingers (image k).
It would take around a minute or two just roll and shape.
Refer the video to understand it in a better format
This ensures that it is a tight roll and create tension in the dough so it would hold that curved shape while baking too.
If you find it difficult to roll it then wet the surface with a tissue towel.. not too wet or else the dough would become sticky.
You would literally feel the dough becoming stiff and taking a convex shape (image l).
So once you feel that place it in a greased pan in which you will be baking later on.
Place your pav buns close to each other and allow for second proofing.
For second proofing do not go by the time observe the pav it should have risen and doubled in volume filling the gaps and sticking to each other. It took me 45 mins to reach this stage
By the way, if you are looking to jazz up your everyday bread rolls recipe then you must check this super crunchy and show stopper tiger bread rolls too.
Step 4 - Baking
Now if you like a brown crust or if your baked goodies does not caramelise well then now is the stage to brush the top of your pav with some milk before baking.
I have now stopped doing it because of the dairy based products which is milk and milk powder that we use to make the pavs which gives this soft pale colour once baked which is generally the colour of pavs that we get in the market but if you like yours to be more caramelised then go for milk wash.
Bake in a preheated oven of 200°C for 18 to 25 mins.
If you had shaped your pavs smooth then you would get an evenly baked pav buns with a smooth store bought finish on top. To get the glossy shine Once baked immediately brush the top with some butter. this also ensures that your top remains soft.
Let it sit in the pan for another 5mins then invert to release the pav.
How to make Ladi Pav in cooker or Kadahi?
Preheat your cooker on medium flame and add salt to the base. Place a trivet and preheat on med high flame for 12-15 mins without any gasket or whistle.
Then place your pan with proofed pavs in it and bake on medium flame for 16-20 mins..
Upon baking if you see a hump like this then while still warm use a tea towel to press it down to get an even sized pavs as seen in the image below.
5 Mistakes to Avoid (PRO TIPS):
Mistake 1: My dough doesn't rise properly during the first or second proofing!!
You might have mixed the salt with yeast or added the butter too soon. Salt and Butter retards the activity of Yeast and hence the dough doesn't rise properly. The right way to add salt is to mix with the flour and the right time to add butter is after kneading for initial 6 mins in a stand mixer or 10 mins by hand. OR you might have killed the yeast altogether by using hot milk.
Mistake 2: Dried Pav Issue?
You might have added too much flour while kneading the dough which makes the pav dry. The best alternative is to grease the worktop with some oil. Refer this video for more inputs on the same.
Mistake 3: Afraid of adding moisture!!
A pav dough needs to be well hydrated. Do not be afraid to add more milk while kneading than what the recipe calls for.
To Test: When you lift the hook of your stand mixer a blob of dough should be sticking to the base of your bowl.
If kneading by hand refer this video to understand better.
Mistake 4: Not tightening the dough while shaping
A good ladi pav has a beautiful smooth surface on top without any bumps, cuts, rough or uneven surface. To achieve this you need to roll the dough to get an even surface with the help of your thumb and fingers as mentioned in the post.
Mistake 5: Placement of the Dough.
The key to achieving soft pav buns is when they have all the four sides attached. This is achieved by placing them near each other so they proof and stick to the adjacent pav buns while Proofing and remains soft once baked.
Some General Tips
- If you are using Active Dry Yeast make sure to activate it first by mixing in the lukewarm milk and sugar first before proceeding with the recipe. DO NOT Proceed if you YEAST is not activated.
- A bread dough always need to hit the hot oven. So ensure to preheat your oven for perfect results.
- Keep your dough covered at all times; while proofing, while shaping, while dividing the dough in order to avoid the drying of the dough.
- Remove the baked pav from the baking pan after about 5 mins and always cool on a wire rack to avoid the base of the pavs from getting soggy due to condensation if left in the pan itself.
Recipe FAQ's
Why does my Dinner Rolls (Pav Buns) smell so Yeasty?
A Bread Dough always needs to hit hot oven to get the beautiful oven spring and bake evenly. If your oven is not pre-heated and is not the right temperature (too high or too low) then your pav bakes unevenly, remains under baked and you get Yeast smell in your bread. And even after following this precaution if you feel that the dough still smells yeasty then in that case you need to reduce the amount of yeast than what is called for in the recipe.
Are Ladi Pav and Dinner Rolls the same?
Yes as both of them is made of Yeast based dough. The slight difference depending upon which part of US you are from is that the former is much lighter and sweeter than the latter. Though the way of preparation and the serving is same but sometimes Dinner Rolls recipe do call for eggs as we did in this recipe but just like this recipe we can make the rolls without eggs too.
What can I do so that my dinner rolls (ladi pav) are not so dry?
Follow these tips mentioned to avoid it from getting dry:
1. Ensure that the dough is well hydrated. Don't be afraid to add little extra lukewarm milk than what the recipe calls for.
2. Avoid adding too much flour while kneading the dough instead you can grease your worktop with some oil and knead.
3. Ensure that your oven is not too hot - as that would accelerate the activity of yeast even before the crust is formed and would eventually dry out the dough.
How to make Yeast Rolls Light and Fluffy?
A great trick to make any dough turn out to be light and fluffy is by enriching the dough. The easiest way to do is by adding an egg to your dough - Check our fluffiest pillow soft dinner rolls recipe. If you are looking for an eggless option then simply substitute water with milk or try to add some powdered milk to the flour. All these are the key factors to enrich a dough.
Why is my Pav so hard, dense and heavy?
A couple of mistakes that you might have made:
1. Letting the salt come in direct contact with the yeast or mixing the butter too soon - this would retard the yeast activity or using hot milk/water which would have killed the yeast in the first place and hence there won't be enough gas produced to make the rolls light.
2. Adding too much flour while kneading which causes the dough to dry making it harder.
3. Not kneading the dough enough thereby no gluten formed resulting in a dense and heavy crumb.
4. If your oven runs hotter than the specified temperature then the crust of the pav would get harder. Try to use an oven thermometer in that case.
Follow the tips mentioned in the post to avoid all of this.
Other Basic Bread Recipes:
- Basic Everyday White Bread Recipe
- No Maida Bread
- Tiger Bread
- Whole Wheat Burger Buns recipe
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Ladi Pav Recipe - Eggfree Dinner Rolls
Soft, Fluffy and Rich; these ladi pav aka homemade dinner rolls are so addictive that you would keep coming back for more. This dinner roll recipe is a keeper!!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Indian
Prep Time 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes minutes
Proofing Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 40 minutes minutes
Servings 16 pavs
Calories 143kcal
Author Sushma Iyer
Equipment
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Kitchen Scale
Mixing Bowls, Spatula
Stand Mixer (optional)
Instant Pot (optional)
Ingredients
- 10 gms (1 tsp) Salt
- 480 gms (4 Cups) Plain Flour
- 15 gms (1.5 tbsp) Milk Powder (refer notes)
- 15 gms (1 tbsp) Sugar
- 8 gms (2 tsp) Instant Yeast
- 300 ml (plus 2-3 tbsp) Lukewarm Milk (refer notes)
- 28 gms (2 tbsp) Butter, softened
Instructions
Step 1 - Prepare the Dough
Onto your bowl add in salt, flour, milk powder, sugar and yeast. Stir and add the lukewarm milk and combine into a dough.
Knead for 10 mins and then add in the butter and knead well for another 10 mins.
Don't be afraid to add additional 3 to 4 tbsp of lukewarm milk while kneading so that you get a well hydrated dough.
How to Knead in a Stand Mixer?
Don't be afraid to add additional 3 to 4 tbsp of milk as need be to get a moist tacky dough. When you lift the hook of your stand mixer a blob of dough should be sticking to the base of the bowl.
Add all the ingredients salt, flour, milk powder, sugar, yeast and milk to the bowl of your stand mixer. Knead for 6 mins. Then add the softened butter and knead for another 4 mins.
Place the dough in an oiled container for it to prove and double in size for an hour.
Once proved divide the dough evenly into 14 equal size portions. Roll it out to give a proper shape. I have shown the exact way to do it in the video check it out. And place it onto an oiled container close to each other and prove for another 30-35 mins (during summers) and nearly an hour (during winters). (refer video for clear picture)
After the second prove bake this in the preheated oven of 200°C for 15-18 mins or in a preheated cooker for 16-20 mins on medium flame
How to Proof Dough in Instant Pot
After the 4th step instead of oiling a big bowl, oil the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Place the dough inside. Close the lid.
Choose the yoghurt button. Set the time to 30 mins.
Once the timer goes off, open the lid and see the magic - the well rise dough. Continue the steps as mentioned above from dividing the dough, rolling, shaping and baking; same as the oven method.
Step 2 - First Proofing
Once the dough is tacky, oil the bowl in which you kneaded the dough and then place the dough in it for first proofing.
Oil the surface of the dough too to avoid it from drying. Cling wrap and cover with a tea towel and let it prove for 90 mins on your counter top.
How to Proof in an Instant Pot: Grease the Pot with some oil and place the dough in it. Cover with a glass lid.
Select the Yogurt Mode and set the time to 40 mins.
Step 3 - Shaping
Once proofed punch the dough to remove the air bubbles. And then divide the dough into 16 equal parts.
You can weigh the entire dough and then divide it into 16 parts or you can eyeball and divide too. Keep the dough covered at all times to avoid it from drying out.
Take one part, tuck the sides beneath to create a roundel. Then using your thumb and fingers start shaping the dough. Push with your thumb and roll with your fingers to tighten the dough. You can watch the video in the recipe card or click here for better understanding.
Once shaped place them in a greased baking tray adjacent to each other and allow for second proofing. Do not go by the clock here instead observe the dough. It needs to rise and double in volume ultimately sticking to each other. It took me 45 mins to reach this stage.
Step 4 - Baking
Once proofed, bake in a preheated oven of 200°C for 18 to 23 mins until light golden brown in colour.
Let it sit in the pan itself for 5 mins then invert on a wire rack to cool completely.
How to Bake in a Cooker?
Add salt to the base of the cooker and place a trivet inside your cooker and pre-heat on med high flame for 10 mins.
Then place the baking pan with proofed dough inside the cooker. Reduce the flame to med and bake for 16-20 mins until golden brown in colour and the bottom sounds hollow.
Video
Notes
- The basic dinner rolls recipe just needs water to bind everything into a dough.
Milk and Milk Powder are enriching agents so if you do not have milk powder handy, skip it and use flour instead. Similarly you can use water instead of milk or water and milk in 50:50 ratio too. Pav made using Milk is richer than made using water. - The total quantity of milk is 300 ml. So start making a dough with just that. However the additional 2 to 3 tbsp of milk mentioned in the recipe is to make the dough hydrated. Which means the dough should not be dry or else you will get harder baked buns. Refer my video to understand what exactly I mean by hydrated or please scroll up to read the article.
- If you are using Active Dry Yeast you will have to activate the yeast. To activate the yeast just combine the yeast with lukewarm milk and sugar first. Give a stir and let it sit for at least 10-15 mins till it blooms and froths up. If it doesn't froth and bubble up it means your yeast is dead, discard that batch and start afresh. Since I used instant variety I did not do this step.
- Please note that I no longer follow the method of milk wash or egg wash right before baking. I have observed that the fat and dairy in the dough is enough to give the pale golden colour on top of our dinner rolls. If you do not get that colour in your oven or if you like a darker shade on your pavs then by all means brush it with some milk or egg right before baking.
- A bread dough always need to hit the hot oven. So ensure to preheat your oven for perfect results.
- Keep your dough covered at all times; while proofing, while shaping, while dividing the dough in order to avoid the drying of the dough.
- You can use this same recipe to make burger buns. In that case do not let it proof adjacent to each other place it far apart to make individual buns. Similarly beetroot puree or spinach puree can be added to make beetroot pavs or spinach pavs respectively. Click here for the recipe of Beetroot Pavs.
- Buttery rolls taste best when you serve them warm and freshly baked. You can of course bake it ahead of time, just warm them up by wrapping in tinfoil and placing them in the oven at 300 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. These are just perfect to make ahead for holidays!
- Make sure your dinner rolls are all about the same size. This would mean that they proof and bake evenly giving you the right amount of servings and would also look like a store bought one.
- Check out the post for pictorial step by step recipe and also for the details all the tools and equipment, along with the details of the 5 mistakes to avoid to make the best egg-free dinner rolls.
WORD OF CAUTION :
If you are planning to double the recipe and use Instant pot for proofing make sure not to use the lid and opt for glass lid instead. The reason being the dough can rise too much and push the pin-up of the Instant Pot and lock the lid. So it is better to use a glass lid or a plate.
Nutrition
Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 83IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
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Originally published on Dec 12, 2017. Edited on 02 September, 2020 to add step by step pictorial images along with improvised tips and tricks. Also updated variations to making a plain bread roll.
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