Runzas Nebraska Fast Food It's Runzatastic!

I grew up in Nebraska, and Runzas were a school night staple in many homes. I think they have a Germanic background, and since we are Irish, and Scandinavian I only got to have this hand held delicacy when I ate with friends.

Much later Runza Fast Food Restaurants started opening in Nebraska and surrounding states.

There are several recipes around but this is one from a church cook book from 1972. I believe it is very close to what is served in the restaurants (all though it's been many years since I've tasted one in Nebraska)

I made my own dough. It is soft, and slightly sweet, but you could use frozen/refrigerated bread, or roll dough

Step 1: The Dough Recipe

This is my T&T ( tried and true) dough recipe. It is very forgiving. It yields a soft, easy to work with bread, that you could stuff with many other things besides this mixture. I've also just made dinner rolls from it.


                               DOUGH                                                                                                                   
4.5 C flour (divided into 1.75 Cups and2.75 cups)                                             
2 packages of yeast (or 4.5 teaspoons) (.25 ounce)                                      
1/2 C sugar                                                                                                                 
1 teaspoon salt                                                                                                           
1/2 C water                                                                                                                  
3/4 C milk                   
1/2 C solid shortning                                                                                                                          
2 eggs 
                                                                                                                          
In a large mixing bowl place 1.75 C flour, sugar, yeast and salt
Heat water, milk, & shortning to 120°-130° on the stove or in the microwave....check with a thermometer
Pour the warm liquids over the dry ingredients.
Add eggs
Beat with an electric mixer on low until blended
Beat 3 additional minutes on HIGH
Change to a dough hook if your mixer comes with one, and add the rest of the flour.
Mix for another minute
Turn out onto a floured board, and knead for 6 to 8 minutes until it is smooth and elastic (I did this mainly IN my mixer)

Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and place in a warm area for about 1 hr.

Comments

[Squash]

For the lazy readers like me, I used crescent roll dough for a quick recipe...

[MaryT8M]

I've done that as well, but it doesn't have quite the same texture.....it IS faster though

[MsJan]

If you make them I promise to eat them !

[MaryT8M]

LOL I'll keep that in mind!

[eetzel]

Do I let them rise again after stuffing?

[MaryT8M]

They will raise a little as you work on them, but no I didn't set them aside to raise again. My husband was "helping" me with these, so I'm sure it took me a little longer to get them all filled and sealed! LOL

[ttollard]

My Grandmother is German/ Russian and originally from Nebraska. She taught us this recipe with the addition of Black pepper. She calls them Bierocks. They would wrap them in linen and put them in the lunch box and they would stay warm until the farmers would break for lunch.

Still Yummy today!

Thanks!

[CementTruck]

Sounds good!

I come from a Spanish background and we have something similar called "Empanadas". The filling is made out of ground beef, onions, garlic, peas, salt, pepper, and sometimes slices of hard boiled egg and/or raisins. They could either be deep fried or baked, but deep fried anything is always better.

[MaryT8M]

I think a lot of cultures have similar....dough filled with something tasty! I agree frying makes just about anything taste good

[mygibzone]

I'll have to try your dough. I'm still on the hunt for an easy one. We make something similar. Instead of cabbage we use sauerkraut. I'm not sure of their origins either because I think sauerkraut is german, but we always called these Russian Hamburgers.

[MaryT8M]

When I first had them the lady that made them called them "Kraut Runzas". Some people make them with no meat in them at all.

I think this dough is very easy. It a real easy to work with dough

[jessyratfink]

Ha! I was about to say that they look just like empanadas. Yum!

I will take either version, and using sauerkraut sounds so good. :D