In the vast culinary landscape of Nebraska, one dish reigns supreme: the Runza. This savory creation, a symphony of flavors and textures, is a testament to the state's rich immigrant heritage. Originating from the Volga German settlers who brought their culinary traditions to the Great Plains, Runzas have become an iconic symbol of Nebraska's unique food culture.
Our comprehensive guide takes you on a culinary journey, showcasing three distinct Runza recipes that capture the essence of this beloved dish. From the classic ground beef and cabbage filling to the vegetarian delight of lentils and vegetables, and the tantalizing twist of pulled pork, each recipe offers a unique taste experience. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, our step-by-step instructions and helpful tips will guide you in creating perfect Runzas that will delight your taste buds and satisfy your cravings. So, put on your apron, gather your ingredients, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more.
RUNZAS
A white roll stuffed with cabbage, beef and onions.
Provided by klinnea
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Pastries
Time 1h50m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir ground beef and onion until beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in cabbage and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook and stir until cabbage is tender, about 20 more minutes. Set mixture aside to cool.
- Mix warm water and butter in a large bowl. Combine dry milk powder, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and yeast in another bowl; stir into butter mixture. Add egg and gradually stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is smooth.
- Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface; cut into 4-inch squares. Scoop beef mixture into each dough square. Bring corners of a dough square together at the top and pinch corners together to seal. Place on a baking sheet, seam side down. Repeat with remaining beef mixture and dough. Cover rolls with a damp cloth and allow to rise for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 243.3 calories, Carbohydrate 31.3 g, Cholesterol 41 mg, Fat 8 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 10.9 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 444 mg, Sugar 6.7 g
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.
RUNZAS (BIEROCKS)
My mother-in-law introduced me to this and it kinda stuck. I am from Iowa, now in Kentucky, and the only way I can get this is by making it at home.
Provided by Krista Tank
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Beef Pie Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 9
Number Of Ingredients 6
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 750.2 calories, Carbohydrate 79.9 g, Cholesterol 78.8 mg, Fat 27.5 g, Fiber 8.6 g, Protein 41.2 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sodium 1221.7 mg, Sugar 9.9 g
NEBRASKA RUNZAS
I was born and raised in NE. All the Runzas I have ever tasted use sauerkraut. So here it is my NE Runza recipe.
Provided by hrlyhny
Categories Meat
Time 45m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Brown hamburger and onion, drain and add kraut and caraway seed.
- Cook about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Divide dough into 8 parts.
- Roll out each and fill Pinch dough together.
- Place seam side down on lightly greased baking sheet.
- Let raise 20 minutes.
- Bake 15 mins at 350.
- Brush with soften butter.
SAVORY RUNZAS
Similar and so much like the original runzas. The prep time is long, but well worth the wait. You may add a slice of your favorite cheese if you want to.
Provided by Khadija Danielle Provencher
Categories Main Dish Recipes Sandwich Recipes Beef
Time 2h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 731.1 calories, Carbohydrate 94.1 g, Cholesterol 97.8 mg, Fat 30.1 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 20.5 g, SaturatedFat 10.1 g, Sodium 676 mg, Sugar 20.2 g
RHODES RUNZAS (BIEROCKS)
Steps:
- Saute cabbage and onion in oil. Cover and steam for 40 minutes. Brown ground beef in a large pan and drain well. Add cabbage, onion, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Flatten each Texas roll or 2 dinner rolls into a 6-inch circle. Divide filling among 12 circles (about 1/3 cup). Place 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese on top of filling. Pull edges around filling and pinch to close. Place on a large sprayed baking sheet, pinched side down. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees F. 30-35 minutes.
RUNZAS II (BIEROCKS)
Ground beef, onions, and cabbage wrapped in bread dough and then baked. Can be made smaller and served as an appetizer. We called these sandwiches Bierocks. I assume they must have originated in Europe and each country has a name for them. I have heard them called Runzas also. They really are simple. I have found that I cannot substitute anything for the MSG. They just lose the flavor. If your ground beef is too lean, these tend to be dry. I sometimes add cheese to them to offset this problem. I have also added fennel seed, about 1 teaspoon, although the recipe does not call for it.
Provided by nancy schaefer
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Beef Pie Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Divide thawed bread dough into 6 pieces and roll into balls. Saute onion in a large saucepan until browned; add beef and cook until beef loses its red color (overcooking beef will cause Runzas to be very dry). Stir in cabbage and MSG, cover and steam until cabbage is wilted.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Remove beef/cabbage mixture from heat and let cool. Roll each dough ball into a 5 x 5 inch square. Fill center of each square with about 1/2 cup of beef mixture. Bring opposite corners of dough square together and seal. Place smooth-side-down on a lightly greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and butter top of each pastry as soon as they come out of the oven.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 370.8 calories, Carbohydrate 39.6 g, Cholesterol 42.5 mg, Fat 15.9 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 15.1 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 539.1 mg, Sugar 4.9 g
RUNZAS (BIEROCKS) RECIPE - (4/5)
Provided by á-17891
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Saute cabbage and onion in oil. Cover and steam for 30 minutes. Brown ground beef in a large pan, and drain well. Add cabbage, onion, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Flatten each Texas™ roll, or 2 dinner rolls into a 6-inch circle. Divide filling among 12 circles (about 1/3 cup). Place 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese on top of filling. Pull edges around filling and pinch to close. Place on a large sprayed baking sheet, pinched side down. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake at 350°F 30-35 minutes. Servings: 12 Prep Time: 15 min (not including thaw time) Bake Time: 30-35 min
RUNZAS/CABBAGE POCKETS
Wonderful recipe that I make all the time. One of those old family recipes. This one is courtesy of "What's for Supper?" cookbook. I use my noodle maker/press to roll out the dough so it cooks evenly.
Provided by Alyssa in Leavenwor
Categories Meat
Time 1h20m
Yield 20 pockets, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Dough:.
- Measure 1 3/4 cups flour into large bowl.
- Stir in sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Heat water, milk and shortening until warm (120deg).
- Pour into flour mixture; add eggs and beat.
- Stir in rest of flour; knead 3 minutes.
- Cover; let rest 20 minutes.
- Filling:.
- Brown beef; add other ingredients.
- Cook till cabbage is wilted.
- Roll dough thin.
- Cut into 6" squares.
- Put 3 Tblsps of filling in center; bring corners up and seal.
- Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until golden.
RUNZAS (CABBAGE BURGERS)
SO GOOD!!!! These "burgers" are super tasty and very easy to make. My family has been making these forever. They are from a restaurant in NE. When I got married, I made these for my DH and he LOVED them. For the dough, I usually make my own, but if you are short on time you can use frozen dough (Rhodes loaves). They freeze very well. When I make them, I usually make a big batch and freeze the ones we don't eat that day. Dipping in Ranch Dressing is oh so delicious. You can add so many different things instead of the cabbage mixture. I have made breakfast ones that I put in eggs, cheese, and sausage or bacon. Very good as well.
Provided by allierowe29
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Brown the ground beef with the onion. Drain the grease.
- In another pan, saute shredded cabbage in butter or margarine.
- Combine the meat and cabbage, adding salt and pepper.
- Roll out the dough. Make sure you roll the dough out thin or else the runzas will be all bread when you bite into them.
- Cut into 7" or 8" squares.
- Put some cabbage-meat mixture in the center of each square.
- Top with the mozzarella cheese.
- Bring the corners together; dampen the edges so they are secure.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes.
RUNZAS (FROM SCRATCH)
If you are a German from Nebraska, you must have this recipe. There are lots of shortcuts, but here is the dough and filling from scratch. Making the dough from scratch is far better than the frozen dough shortcut, but it is time consuming. They also freeze well.
Provided by Ranelle
Categories Meat
Time 4h20m
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- For the Dough:.
- 1. Mix water, yeast, sugar ans salt. Stir until dissolved.
- 2. Add egg and melted butter.
- 3. Stir in flour.
- 4. Put in refrigerator for four hours.
- For the Filling:.
- 1. Brown hamburger and onion. Drain off excess grease.
- 2. Add cabbage, seasonings and water then simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- 3. Let cool before filling Runzas.
- For the Runzas:.
- 1. Roll dough into an oblong shape and cut into 16 squares.
- 2. Divide filling between the squares.
- 3. Pull the four sides together and press to seal.
- 4. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
RIP ROARING RUNZAS (AKA CORNHUSKER CALZONES)
I ask you this, why don't more people know about these wonderful Nebraska treats? If I had the money to franchise a Runza restaurant in Florida, it would be a veritable cash machine! Cha-ching! I originally experienced these little wonders in their Nebraska homeland when I spent one memorable summer milking cows and swathing hay. After I returned to Florida, I experimented again and again trying to achieve the same level of yumminess. This recipe is close, but I still envy all those Cornhuskers who can purchase these yummies from a drive-through window.
Provided by Mercy
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 3h45m
Yield 18 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 165.1, Fat 12.8, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 39.6, Sodium 502.1, Carbohydrate 2.6, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 1.3, Protein 9.6
WOWLERS! (RUNZAS)
This is your basic cabbage roll filling, but instead of wrapping in a cabbage leaf, you wrap it up in homemade bread dough. They're great warm or cold. Makes a great substitute for ho-hum sandwiches! We like 'em with spicy mustard spread on top. The recipe was given to me by a neighbor, years ago. I double the recipe so I usually get about 2 dozen filled rolls. Note: if you don't want to fool with homemade dough, hot roll mix works great.
Provided by Laudee
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 1h
Yield 24 rolls
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Pour hot water in large bowl.
- Add milk, yeast, and stir to dissolve.
- Add oil, sugar, salt, and eggs.
- Beat well.
- Add 2 cups, or enough flour to make a soft dough.
- Blend thoroughly.
- Add rest of flour, in 1/2 cup increments, kneading well after each addition, until dough is elastic and easy to work with.
- Place dough on floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes.
- Roll out, cut in 4 inch squares, and place a couple of tablespoons of filling in center of each square.
- Fold and seal tightly around all edges.
- (Filling recipe follows).
- Place each filled square on greased cookie sheets, and bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes, or till a nice golden brown.
- Remove from cookie sheet and set on cooling rack.
- Filling: In large skillet, melt oleo some, then add meat, and brown and drain.
- Shred cabbage, and add to meat.
- Chop onions; add to cabbage/meat mixture.
- Add salt and pepper, or seasonings of your choice.
- Stir well.
- Cover, and steam mixture about 20-30 minutes.
- Cool down to where it's comfortable to handle and then spoon onto dough squares.
RUNZAS (BIEROCKS)
If you grew up in Nebraska, these were a favorite food !! I found this recipe on Sweet & Saucy. The picture is from allrecipes.com
Provided by Becky Graves
Categories Other Breads
Time 2h10m
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- 1. Method: In a large mixing bowl, place 1 3/4 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Heat milk, water, and shortening to 120F - 130F. (I heated the mixture in a saucepan on the stove and used a candy thermometer to check the temperature.) Pour over flour mixture; add the eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low until blended. Beat an additional 3 minutes on high. Stir in the remaining flour (2 3/4 cups); knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic (about 6 - 8 minutes). Place dough in a greased bowl; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 1 hour.)
- 2. Meanwhile, brown beef and onions in skillet. Add cabbage, salt, and pepper; cook until cabbage is wilted and starting to become translucent. Continue seasoning filling with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- 3. Punch dough down. Divide into 10 equal pieces and roll each piece into a square on a lightly floured surface. Top each square with 1/3 cup meat mixture and 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese. Fold dough over the filling, crimp edges tightly to seal, and place on greased baking sheets. (I used a pizza stone; you could also line your baking sheets with parchment [but NOT wax paper].) Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot
RUNZAS
These are tasty little pasties perfect for hand-held eating. Great to take along for a cool-weather picnic if you have a way to keep them warm, or just good comfort food on a chilly evening. I'm trying to figure out how best to freeze these for OAMC, so I can just pop one in the oven when I come home from school and have no energy to do anything. Any tips on that would be welcome. Additionally, I'm planning on using a homemade whole grain bread instead of the frozen storebought dough, but I don't have a recipe for that right now.
Provided by kitchengrrl
Categories Savory Pies
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Thaw dough and let rise until nearly doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Brown beef in skillet; drain excess fat. Add cabbage, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and spices. Cook until cabbage and onion are tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
- Roll dough into a 16x8-inch rectangle, approx 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 8 (4-inch) squares. Fill each square with 2 T of beef mixture.
- To make pasties: Bring corners to center and pinch edges together. Place seam side down on ungreased baking sheet. Brush with softened butter. Let rest 10 minutes. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
RUNZAS (BIEROCKS) RECIPE - (4/5)
Provided by Reen
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350. Cut each roll of dough into 3 pieces and set aside. Brown beef and cabbage in large skillet. Season to taste. Roll out dough and cut into squares. Place a spoonful of mixture onto center of each. Sprinkle cheese on top. Fold over and pinch sides to seal. Rub a bit of vegetable oil on outstide of each pastry. Place in 9x13 pan for 45-60 min.
RHODES RUNZAS
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Sauté cabbage and onion in oil. Cover and steam for 40 minutes. Brown ground beef in a large pan, and drain well. Add cabbage, onion, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper and cook for an additional 20 minutes.Flatten each Texas roll, or 2 dinner rolls into a 6-inch circle. Divide filling among 12 circles (about 1/3 cup). Place 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese on top of filling. Pull edges around filling and pinch to close.Place on a large sprayed baking sheet, pinched side down. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake at 350°F 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Nutritional Facts Serves
Tips:
- Use high-quality beef: Choose a chuck roast or ground beef with at least 80% lean meat.
- Cook the beef slowly: Braising or stewing the beef will help to tenderize it and develop the flavor.
- Use a variety of vegetables: Adding vegetables to the runzas will add flavor, texture, and nutrients.
- Don't overfill the runzas: Leave some room for the filling to expand during baking.
- Bake the runzas until they are golden brown: This will ensure that the filling is cooked through and the pastry is crispy.
Conclusion:
Runzas are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, or for a hearty snack. With a variety of fillings to choose from, there is sure to be a runza that everyone will love. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting meal to try, give runzas a try!
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