Pav [Buttery Eggless Indian Dinner Rolls]

[Adapted from Tastes of Home Recipe]

Ingredients:- [Makes 8-10 medium sized Pav]

3 cups flour (I used 1.5 cups each of all-purpose and whole wheat flour) [ You can use bread flour too]
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2.5 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water (for frothing the yeast)
1.5 tbsp honey [ substitute with sugar or maple sugar]
1 - 1 1/4 cups luke warm milk (or as required for kneading the dough)
Flour for dusting
Melted butter for brushing on top
 
Method:-

If using a combination of flours, sift them once to mix thoroughly.
Dissolve yeast in luke warm water mixed with honey and set aside till frothy. 

Note:-If you dont see foam within 30 seconds of dissolving the yeast,discard the mix & restart.

While the yeast is frothing, in a large bowl (enough to hold doubled up dough after rise), tip in the salt.
Top it up with flour, melted butter and foamy yeast paste [ in this order].
Start mixing in lukewarm milk till everything comes together. 

Note :- Start with 1/2 cup of milk to begin with.
 
Once a loose dough ball starts to come together, transfer the dough to a floured surface, and continue kneading for 5-8 minutes 
till you get a soft, elastic dough.
While kneading , if you feel that the dough is on the dry side, add a tablespoon (s)of milk
if you feel it sticky, add some flour to bring it together. 
Brush some oil on all sides of the bowl, and once kneaded, transfer the dough back to the bowl.
Brush some oil on the top of the dough ball, cover the bowl with a damp cloth and set aside in a warm, dry place for 1-1.5 hours to rise.
Spray your baking sheet with some cooking spray or line with parchment.
Once risen, punch down the dough with your knuckles & knead again for 5 minutes.
Divide into equal 8-10 portions of the ball size you desire.
Next, moisten your palms with some oil, take one portion at a time and roll it up into a dough ball, tightly kneading in between your palms.

Note:-Kneading between the palms creates friction which gives the rolls a great texture after baking.

Line the dough balls side by side about 1 inch part on the baking sheet and set aside again to rise.About 20-30 minutes. 
After rising, the sides of the dough balls with touch each other, but dont worry, we ll bake the whole thing as a pull apart loaf.
While the dough balls are rising, preheat your oven to 375 F /190 C.
After the second rise, bake the dough balls for 15-18 minutes or until the top is starting to turn brown.
You can use a skewer to test if they are baked from inside.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F /175 C.
Take out the baking sheet, brush Take out the baking sheet,brush the pavs with some melted butter and bake for another 2-5 minutes 
Bake until the top is golden. (This melted butter brushed on top gives the pavs the typical bakery "brownish" look & adds great flavor too.)
Once baked, remove the baking sheet from oven.Let the pavs sit for 5 minutes in the baking sheet itself 
Using tongs, transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Once cooled completely, store in an air tight box lined with cloth until ready to use.
When ready to serve, serve whole (this is how I like them) as it is.

Alternatively (this is traditional way of serving ), 
using a sharp knife, slice the balls in half and brush some more butter on the bread side and lightly brown on a hot skillet/tawa/grill.

Serve warm with bhaji (spicy vegetable mash).