Nebraska Runza Copycat Recipes

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.

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!

NEBRASKA RUNZA COPYCAT

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 a preheated 375-degree oven for 20 minutes or until brown.
• Call Nebraska natives not in attendance and gloat (taunting not advised).

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.