Recipe For Runza Using Frozen Bread Dough

RUNZAS (BIEROCKS)

Steps:

• Thaw out frozen bread dough; cut each roll into 3 pieces and set aside. Brown beef and cabbage in a large skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll out bread dough and cut into squares. Place a spoonful of the beef/cabbage mixture onto the center of each dough square. Sprinkle cheese on top, fold over and pinch sides to seal. Rub a bit of oil on the outside of each pastry.
• Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until golden brown.

RUNZA

Steps:

• Thaw two loaves of frozen bread dough or make the equivalent amount using your favorite bread recipe.
• While dough thaws, make the filling.
• Brown the hamburger and drain, then return to pan.
• Add cabbage and onion and cook down.
• Salt and pepper to taste (1 tsp pepper recommended).
• Let dough rise, then punch down and roll a portion to 1/4" thickness.
• Cut into 4" x 8" pieces and add about 1/2 cup meat mixture to each.
• Fold dough pieces over and seal the edges, then place seam-side-down on a greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise 20-30 minutes, then bake in pre-heated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until brown.
• Call Nebraska natives not in attendance and gloat (taunting not advised).

COPYCAT NEBRASKA RUNZAS

Steps:

• Put the bread dough ingredients into a bread machine and set it on the dough setting. Press the start button. Check in a few minutes in to see if the dough is forming into a ball. If not, add a bit more water or if it is too sticky, add a little more flour.
• While the bread dough is forming, make the filling: put the garlic and onions in your food processor and pulse to chop into little bits. Remove from the food processor and add the cabbage. Pulse to chop the cabbage well.
• Heat a medium saute pan or wok over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and ground beef and cook, chopping the meat frequently with a rubber spatula, until the meat is all browned. While cooking, season the meat generously, tasting as you go.
• Add the onion powder, garlic power and white pepper and stir to mix. Stir in the chopped cabbage and continue cooking uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, then reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for 20 - 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is very, very tender and soft. Add seasonings until it tastes just a little too peppery.
• When the dough is done, preheat the oven to 375 F. and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Separate the dough into 12 pieces. On a floured surface, roll each piece of dough as thin as possible without making holes or tearing (about 1/8 inch thick).
• Dust a bowl with flour and put one of the rounds in the bowl, letting it go up the sides of the bowl a bit. Put 1/3 - 1/2 cup of filling in the middle, then pinch the dough up around the filling until it's sealed. When you flip it over, it should be a nice rounded rectangle shape.
• Set each Runza seam side down on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the Runzas are formed. Bake at 375 F. for 20 - 25 minutes or until the pockets are nicely browned on top. Spray the tops of the hot Runzas with cooking spray or brush with melted butter. Enjoy!

CABBAGE-BEEF STUFFED BREAD BUNS (RUNZA)

Steps:

• Divide each loaf of the frozen bread dough into 6 even pieces (you will have 18 pieces).
• Roll each piece into balls; cover with a clean tea towel and set aside.
• Crumble the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat; cook stirring until no longer pink; drain all fat.
• Add in water or beef broth, cabbage, onion and garlic.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook stirring occasionally until the cabbage is soft.
• Drain all liquid very well (important the you must drain very well!).
• Mix in the 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (add 1/2 cup to start, adding in more later to taste if needed) seasoned salt, startind with 1 teaspoon seasoned salt and add in more to taste and lots black pepper; stir to combine well; set aside.
• On a lightly-floured board roll each piece of dough into 5-inch squares (does not have to measure exactly).
• Place about 3/4 cup of the cabbage mixture into the center of each square.
• Fold the dough over and pinch to seal.
• Place onto a greased baking sheet seam-side down.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove and brush each with melted butter.
• Serve hot or warm.

TRADITIONAL GERMAN BIEROCKS (AKA RUNZAS) - MADE FROM SCRATCH: RECIPE BY INDIANA MOMMY - COOKING FROM THE HEART LAND

Steps:

• For the filling: I make the filling the day before I want to make the bierocks and cool it overnight in the refrigerator. Start by warming 1 tablespoon of the butter & avocado oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the shredded cabbage, the onion, the ground beef and the salt and pepper. Break up the beef. Add the water and cover and cook over medium low heat for 30-40 minutes stirring occasionally. The cabbage should be wilted and the beef fully cooked through. Drain the mixture when it finishes cooking.
• For the dough: Heat the milk, water & butter over low heat on the stovetop until the butter is almost melted (between 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit.) In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook add 4 cups of the flour with the salt, sugar and yeast and stir together. Slowly add the milk mixture while the dough hook is mixing. Scrape the bottom and the sides a few times to make sure there aren't any pockets of flour in this mixture. Once all the flour is mixed in, add the eggs 1 at a time and mix for 3-5 minutes until all those ingredients are fully incorporated. Then while the dough hook is going add 1 cup of flour at a time until your dough comes together. It will pull away from the sides of the bowl and no longer be sticky. You need to knead the dough for 10 minutes. Grease a large bowl and put the dough into that bowl, rubbing the top and bottom in the grease that is in the bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a slightly warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Punch it down and let it rise again for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4. Roll each of these 1/4ths into a rectangle and cut into 6 pieces. Take about ½ cup of the filling mixture and put it into each of the 1/6ths. Pull up the diagonal corners to meet in the middle and close all 4 seams by pinching them shut. Put all the bierocks on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until nicely browned on top. I rotated mine halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. You can put them seam side up or down. Down is the more popular method because it holds the seams closed better, but that's up to you. I brushed them all with butter when they came out of the oven but that is not required.
• These freeze so well and are really great dipped in ketchup, bbq sauce, ranch, blue cheese....I love my dips haha!

HOMEMADE RUNZAS

Steps:

• Place frozen dinner roll dough on a sheet pan and rise according to package instructions. It will use 2 rolls for each sandwich.
• While dough rises, begin browning your ground beef and onion in a large skillet. When the meat is about halfway done, add in the shredded cabbage and cover with a lid. Cook until meat and cabbage are done. Drain off any excess grease or liquid. Set aside.
• When rolls have risen completely, lightly flour your surface. Remove two rolls and form a ball. Roll the ball out into a rectangle approximately 5"x7".
• Place approximately 1/3 cup of the filling in the center of the dough and spread out from top to bottom.
• Fold the bottom up and the top of the dough down and press to seal. Fold the left side over, pinching to seal. Then do the right side, gently stretching to cover the left. Pinch closed.
• Place each sandwich on a greased cookie sheet, seam side down.
• Let rise again for another 30-45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush the tops with melted butter.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until bread dough is golden brown.
• Serve hot.

CHEESY BREAKFAST BIEROCKS / RUNZAS

Steps:

• *The night before, spray frozen bread dough loaves with butter-flavored cooking spray (I use Crisco's), and wrap each tightly with plastic wrap. Place into fridge to thaw overnight.
• The next morning, add sausage, cabbage and onion to a large frying pan. Sauté over medium heat breaking up sausage into small pieces as you go along. Drain grease, add and stir in butter, salt and pepper to taste. Cover, and set aside.
• In another large frying pan, add a little butter if needed, and add whisked eggs. Add salt and pepper as you normally enjoy, and cook until scrambled, stirring. When cooked, cover and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350º F.
• Spray 2 baking sheets with butter flavored no-stick spray (I really like Crisco's the best), and set aside.
• Cut first loaf into 6 slices, remove one slice and keep the rest wrapped so they don't dry out. Place one dough disk onto wooden cutting board, and press out, starting from the center and working your way to the edge (just like making a pizza), into a 5 1/2 - 6 inch round circle.
• Place 1/2 of a slice of American cheese (torn in half) in the center, then top with a mound (about a ⅓ cup) of the meat mixture. Top with a small scoop of scrambled eggs. (*If you dump the scrambled eggs into a rectangular pan, draw a knife through down the center long ways, then across 6 times, it's a guesstimate of a 12th. It equals out to be one egg per roll. Easy-peasy!!) Top the eggs with the other half of the slice of cheese, torn in half. Bring up the sides, a bit at a time, pulling up and over the top, overlapping with each bit. (Just like you were making a Chinese dumpling or "crunchwrap".) Pinch a little to seal, and place seam side down onto your prepared baking sheet. Brush with melted butter. Continue with rest of loaf making 6 stuffed rolls.
• Pop the sheet into the oven and bake for 25 - 30 minutes until golden. Remove from oven, then remove rolls from sheet and place onto a cooling rack. Baste with more melted butter.
• Make a second batch with the second loaf and rest of ingredients. (*You can make these the next day if you'd like.) *If making the second day, you don't have to warm the meat mixture or the scrambled eggs. (Or make the eggs fresh that day. They cook quickly.)
• Let cool just a little, then slice in half with a serrated knife, and serve with gravy for dipping if desired. These are fantastic just as is, though!

EASY HOMEMADE RUNZA RECIPE

Steps:

• This is by far easier when you use a large stand mixer with a dough hook. Put warm water, yeast, sugar, salt and butter in bowl and add a cup of flour. Using whip beater attachment, mix thoroughly, scraping down sides of bowl. HInt: grab a clean dish towel and wrap it around the bowl, see photo. That is unless you really enjoy cleaning up flour. (I don't.) Add 2 cups of flour, one at a time, and beat well. You'll still want to keep your mixer modestly draped for the next step. Switch to dough hook and keep adding flour gradually until the dough hook starts pulling the dough away from the sides of the bowl. Stop the mixer and feel the dough. If it's still sticky, add a tablespoon or so of flour at a time and resume kneading with the dough hook. Stop adding flour when it's soft but handles without sticking to your fingers.Great bread dough should feel satiny and elastic.At this point I simply remove the dough hook and gather the dough into a ball. I spray the bowl generously with Pam or similar, return the dough to the bowl (not necessary to wash it first) smooth a little cooking oil or olive oil over the dough, cover with dish towel and set in a nice warm place. (In the summer, I've found my car makes a great proofing box!!)When the dough has doubled in size, divide into 16 pieces and roll out into a thin oval about 6" by 8". Heavens, this is no time for exactitude. Think rustic and handmade. I like my runzas a little on the small side with thin, crisp dough wrappers. You may like yours chubby.(Sometimes I make 8 runzas with half the dough and cinnamon rolls with the other half.)

EASY HOMEMADE RUNZAS

Steps:

• Put warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, and butter in the mixer bowl and add a cup of flour. Using the whip attachment, mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
• Hint: grab a clean dish towel and wrap it around the bowl. That is unless you enjoy cleaning up flour. (I don't.)
• Add 2 cups of flour, one at a time, and beat well. Keep the mixer draped for the next step.
• Switch to a dough hook and keep adding flour gradually until the hook starts pulling the dough away from the sides of the bowl.
• Stop the mixer and feel the dough. If it's still sticky, add a tablespoon or so of flour at a time and resume kneading with the dough hook.
• Stop adding flour when it's soft but handles without sticking to your fingers. Great bread dough should feel satiny and elastic.
• Remove the dough hook and gather the dough into a ball.
• Spray the bowl generously with non-stick spray and return the dough to the bowl. It's not necessary to wash it before you do.
• Smooth a little cooking oil or olive oil over the dough, cover the bowl with a dishtowel and set it in a nice warm place to rise for about an hour. (In the summer, I've found my car makes a great proofing box!!)
• When the dough has doubled in size, divide it into 16 pieces and roll out into a thin oval about 6" by 8". Heavens, this is no time for exactitude. Think rustic and handmade. I like my runzas a little on the small side with thin, crisp dough wrappers. You may like yours chubby.
• Brown the ground beef until it begins to lose its pink.
• Next, add the butter, olive oil, onion, and cabbage and cook until the cabbage and onion wilts and the ground beef gets a little brown. Finally, break up the meat into pretty fine crumbles.
• Add salt, pepper, and garlic.
• Set it aside to cool until the bread is ready and rolled out.
• Put about 1/2- 2/3 cup of filling on each dough oval and fold over, sealing edges of the bread dough.
• You may water to wet the dough with your finger dipped in warm water for a better seal.
• Place each runza seam side down on a baking sheet. Leave a bit of space between each one to allow the bread to rise.
• Let them rise about 20-30 minutes.
• Bake in a 375-degree oven for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned. Brush with melted butter when they come out of the oven to give them a soft, beautiful color and tasty crust.
• These keep well in the fridge for a few days. Or, wrap individually in foil and freeze. They freeze well, so make a bunch when you do.
• REHEAT: Heat frozen wrapped runzas in 400* oven for 20-25 min. Remove foil last 5 min.

NEBRASKA'S HOMEMADE RUNZA

Steps:

• Start by placing 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
• Either in a small saucepan over medium heat or a microwave safe bowl, heat the milk, water, and butter to 120-130 degrees F.
• Pour heated wet ingredients into flour mixture. Stir slightly before adding beaten eggs.
• Continue by adding the remaining flour, one cup at a time, until when kneaded the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic.
• Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
• While dough is rising, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain.
• Stir in the chopped cabbage, seasoned salt, and pepper. Stir gently until cabbage is cooked and filling combined.
• Punch dough down, and divide into 12 equal portions.
• Working with one piece of dough, roll into a rectangle (approx 6 inches x 8 inches in size).
• Place a heaping 1/2 cup of filling into the center of each dough piece.
• Fold dough over filling. Seal and tuck edges.
• Place onto a greased baking sheet (edges can touch).
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

BIEROCKS (RUNZA) RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water to activate. Feed your yeast with a pinch of sugar and let stand for 15 minutes, until foam appears.
• In a large bowl, sift the flour, add sugar and salt, and stir. Pour the yeast water. Mix until there are no more clumps of dry flour.
• Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is elastic.
• Transfer the dough back into the bowl. Brush it with oil.
• Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for at least 1 hour undisturbed in a warm area.
• Once it has doubled in size, place the dough into a floured worktop. Form the dough into one big ball.
• Divide it into 25 to 30 equal portions and roll each portion into a ball. Place them on a baking sheet covered with a kitchen towel to prevent drying out.
• Set them aside to prove for 30 minutes. While waiting, prepare the filling.
• Heat up a skillet on medium heat and cook the beef breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Drain the excess oil.
• Add the cabbage and onions, let it cook for 40 minutes or until the cabbage is fully wilted and season with salt and pepper.
• Once done, transfer into a bowl and let it cool. Mix in the cheese after the mixture has cooled off.
• Take the dough and using a rolling pin, flatten each piece into about ⅛-inch thickness.Fill each dough with 2 tablespoons of filling.
• To fold, take two opposite edges to the middle and pinch them together. Do the same to the other side. Pinch the seams together to seal.
• Place the bierocks into the baking sheet seam side down leaving at least 1-inch space in between each. Repeat until all the dough and filling are used up.
• Bake the bierocks for 13 to 15 minutes or until the top is lightly golden brown.
• Brush them with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven. Serve and enjoy!

RUNZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Measure 1-3/4 cup flour.
• Add yeast, lard, sugar, milk, water, and salt.
• Mix.
• Add eggs.
• Stir in remaining flour.
• Knead 10 minutes; cover; let rise until double. This takes about 1 hour. Now you can go to other runza recipes and use this dough to wrap around the fillings.
• These are great.