Leona Suedmeier’s version of the classic Nebraska runza — homemade bread dough stuffed with seasoned ground chuck and cabbage. A family recipe from the Suedmeier cookbook.

Ingredients

Bread Dough:

  • 3 1/2 cups flour (half bread flour, half all-purpose)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
  • 1/3 cup warm water (110°F)
  • 2 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 3 Tbsp honey
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1 egg for brushing on top

Filling:

  • 1 lb ground chuck
  • 1/3 head of cabbage, chopped
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: dash of Worcestershire sauce

Steps

Make the Dough:

  1. Mix flour and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with dough hook.
  2. Mix milk, water, butter, honey and yeast in a liquid measuring cup.
  3. Turn machine to low and slowly add liquid.
  4. When dough comes together, increase speed to medium and mix until dough is smooth and satiny, stopping machine 2-3 times to scrape dough from hook if necessary, about 10 minutes. (May use hand mixer and mix with less flour initially; then knead more flour into dough for about 6 minutes.)
  5. Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface; knead to form smooth, round ball, about 15 seconds.
  6. Place dough in very lightly oiled bowl, rubbing dough around bowl to lightly coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; place in warm oven until dough doubles in size, 40-50 minutes.

Make the Filling:

  1. Brown ground chuck in fry pan.
  2. Add chopped onion and cook a bit.
  3. Add cabbage and cook till still crunchy.
  4. Salt and pepper to taste. Add Worcestershire sauce if desired.

Assemble and Bake:

  1. Lightly flour hands, pinch off large golf ball-sized dough, form into a ball, then flatten into a disc with center thicker than outer edges.
  2. Place 1/4 to 1/3 cup filling in center.
  3. Wash hands clean of meat oils. Wrap like a package: bring sides together and crimp, turn and bring opposite sides together and crimp.
  4. Place on parchment paper. Brush with 1 beaten egg. Let rise approximately 20 minutes.
  5. Place in preheated 375°F oven. Bake 8 minutes, turn pan and bake about 7 more minutes until tops and bottoms are golden brown.
  6. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter and sprinkle with salt. Cool.