Runzas Turnovers Recipes

NEBRASKAN RUNZAS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Combine 3/4 cup warm water (approximately 110 degrees F),the yeast and a pinch of sugar in a large mixing bowl and let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add 3 eggs and whisk to combine. Add half of the bread flour and beat with a wooden spoon until good and thready, about 3 minutes. Add the butter, the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, the remaining flour and the salt and mix well. The dough will be a little sticky. Let rest 15 minutes.
• Knead the dough to develop the gluten until it feels tight and smooth, about 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly buttered bowl, cover and let it rise for 1 hour at room temperature. Then chill in the refrigerator,1 to 2 hours or overnight.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 8 even portions. Roll each one into a ball and leave on the counter, covered loosely, to warm up, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, breaking up the beef, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a bowl.
• Drain and discard all but a film of the fat from the skillet. Add the butter; when it has melted, add the onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and rosemary and cook 3 minutes. Add the mixture to the bowl containing the beef.
• Without cleaning the skillet, add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Saute the spinach over high heat until wilted and the excess liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Chop the spinach, then add it to the beef mixture and set aside to cool.
• Roll out the dough: Flatten a dough ball on a heavily floured surface and roll out into a 3-by-5-inch rectangle. Then make wrapping flaps from the four corners of the rectangle by rolling out each corner thinly so you have a thick rectangle with four thinner triangular wings at the corners.
• Fill the runzas: Spoon 1/2 cup of the beef filling into the center of the dough rectangle and wrap the flaps over it, pinching to close. Flip the bundle over in your hands, gently forming the runza into a fat football shape. Set the runza seam-side down on an oiled baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough balls, arranging them on 2 oiled baking sheets. Let the runzas rise about an inch, uncovered, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Whisk the remaining egg and 2 tablespoons water to make an egg wash and brush it thinly over the tops of the runzas. Bake until golden brown, 25 minutes. Serve hot.

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.

SAVORY RUNZAS

Steps:

• Place 1 3/4 cups flour into a bowl. Stir in sugar, yeast, and salt.
• Combine milk, water, and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high until warm (120 to 130 degrees F/50 to 55 degrees C), 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour heated milk into the flour mixture. Add eggs and beat at low speed for 30 seconds. Switch to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining flour. Knead until smooth, about 3 minutes. Cover the bowl with waxed paper and a towel; let rest for 20 minutes.
• Cook ground beef and onion in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until beef is browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• At the same time, melt butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add cabbage to beef mixture with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large baking sheet.
• Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until very thin. Cut into 6 squares or rectangles, whichever you prefer. Place 3 tablespoons beef filling in the center of each shape. Bring corners together, pinch edges to seal, and place right-side up onto the prepared baking sheet. Let rise until an indentation remains when lightly pressed with a finger, 40 to 60 minutes.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dough is done and golden brown, about 20 minutes.

~::~ RUNZAS ~::~

Steps:

• 1. Prep rolls to rise per instructions on bag -- this can take several hours, depending on temperature. (You can use the shortcut method according to instructions also on bag, although I've never done it so not sure how well it works!)
• 2. About an hour before rolls are fully-risen, prepare filling by first sauteing onion in a small amount of butter or oil until crisp-tender.
• 3. Add hamburger to same pan (with onion) and cook 'til brown, stirring occasionally. Drain fat, if desired; I typically use very lean beef that requires little-to-no draining.
• 4. Season with salt & pepper, to taste. (NOTE: I have not included measurements as individual tastes vary, but 'true' runzas are quite peppery -- this is what gives that distinct, tell-tale flavor!)
• 5. Add cabbage to same pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Once done, remove from heat and let sit while you prepare dough.
• 6. Once dough has fully risen, flatten individual rolls with rolling pin. Place about 1/2 c. or so of beef/cabbage filling in center, pinch the seams closed, and then place (seam-side down) on sprayed baking sheet. If not rushed for time, let sit for another 20-30 mins. to allow dough to rise a bit more.
• 7. Place in preheated 350 degree oven and let bake about 20 mins. or until lightly browned.

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.

RUNZAS TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Thaw bread according to package directions and allow to rise.
• Cook beef in a large non-stick skillet until well browned, breaking up with a fork while cooking until crumbly.
• Add onion and 1/4 cup broth to pan.
• Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Add cabbage and remaining 1/4 cup broth; cover and simmer over low heat until cabbage is tender and pan juices have evaporated, 12-15 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut each loaf into eight pieces.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 4 x 6 in rectangle.
• Place 2 heaping tablespoons of filling on dough; fold in half and pinch edges to seal tightly.
• Place turnovers on greased baking sheets.
• Brush tops with egg white mixture.
• Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.
• Serve warm.

SKILLET RUNZA

Steps:

• Brown meat and onion together in a large skillet (or pot) for about 10 minutes; stir often.
• Drain off any fat.
• Stir in water, instant broth and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Mix in the noodles and the cabbage.
• Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until noodles are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

EASY GERMAN BIEROCKS (RUNZA)

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in ground beef, and cook until crumbly and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in chopped onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes more. Add the chopped cabbage; cook and stir until the cabbage has softened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then spread the mixture onto a baking sheet to cool until cool enough to handle.
• Once the mixture has cooled, flatten a dinner roll, and place several tablespoons of the cabbage mixture in the center. Pull the edges of the dough over the filling and pinch to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or electric skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry bierocks a few at a time in the preheated oil on both sides until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes; drain on paper towels.

RIP ROARING RUNZAS (AKA CORNHUSKER CALZONES)

Steps:

• Brown the ground beef, bulk sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium high heat.
• Drain the fat, then add the cabbage, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Saute until the cabbage is tender (about 5 to 8 minutes).
• Add the cheeses and caraway seeds and stir over the heat until the cheese is melted (taste-test for seasoning).
• Divide the bread dough into eighteen (18) equal pieces.
• Flatten each piece of dough into a round disk.
• Pile about 1/4 cup (maximum) of filling onto the center of each dough disk and then pinch edges together to form a stuffed round bun (I also like to make crescent shapes by folding one side of the the circle over the filling and pinching it).
• Lay them, pinched-side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Let dough rise for one (1) hour.
• Brush them with a little milk or melted butter and sprinkle with some kosher salt and caraway seeds.
• Bake at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Sauerkraut can be used in place of the cabbage.
• These can easily be individually frozen and reheated in the microwave oven or conventional oven.