A Small Batch Nebraska Runzas#BreadBakers

Runzas? You might wonder, “What is a runza?”
Runzas are a cherished part of the regional cuisine of Nebraska. A runza is a classic, savory buttery bread filled with beef mince, cabbage, spinach and onion filled sandwich, which is baked in a pocket of yeasted dough. They are so amazing, delicious and filling!

Their origin is that they are from Russia or Germany, and came to the U.S. via the Volga Germans who settled in Nebraska, Kansas, North and South Dakota in the 1900s. The shape depends on the region. In Nebraska, runzas are shaped into an elongated roll.

The bread for these runzas is super soft and light, and the dough is very easy to work with. It's enriched with butter, eeg and milk. This recipe makes 3 runzas, make a larger batch and freeze, they reheat perfectly.
Makes 3
Ingredients
For The Dough
150 Grams All Purpose Flour
3 Grams Instant Yeast
6 Grams Caster Sugar
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
20 Grams Salted Butter
60Ml Warm Milk
Warm Water - to knead as required
1 Egg Yolk
1 Egg Yolk + 1 Tablespoon water - for brushing the buns
For The Filling
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Medium Onion - finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
250 Grams Lean Beef Mince
½ Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Cup Shredded Cabbage
½ Cup Chopped Spinach
Salt & Black Pepper to taste
½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
½ Cup Shredded Cheese
Method
For The Dough

Dissolve the yeast in the water and let sit for a few minutes.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, sugar, and salt and whisk.
In a bowl, add the milk, melted butter, eggs, and yeast mixture. Whisk until combined and pour it into the flour mixture. Stir with a dough whisk or wooden spoon until you have a rough dough. Add little water at a time to make a nice soft dough then knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic and till it passes the window pane test. Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover, place it in a warm spot, and let rise for 25 to 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. 

Heat the oil in a skillet, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the Worcestershire sauce, cabbage, spinach and cook, stirring regularly, for about 6 - 8 minutes. Generously season the mixture with red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper to taste. It's best to over season the filling ( it does not taste bland).
Turn off the heat and let the filling completely cool. You can make this filling day ahead and cool it in the refrigerator.
Let's Make The Runzas 

Once the dough has doubled in size then. 

Punch the dough and divide dough into 3 equal pieces ( each weighed around 93 grams), gently forming small balls.  

Roll each piece of dough into rectangle circle (middle of the circles a little thicker than the edges. If the dough is too thin in the middle, it gets kind of see through on top when baking).

Place shredded cheese. Spoon the filling over cheese and again cheese

pinch edges of dough (dip your finger in warm water and run it along the edge of the dough) together to form slightly elongated / oblong bun.

Transfer bun, seam side down, to prepared baking sheet keeping them little apart so that the stick together while baking (they will be like pull part buns with soft sides). Repeat with remaining dough and filling, placing buns on baking sheet. Cover buns with plastic wrap or wet kitchen towel and let rise until puffed, about 20 minutes.

Brush the buns with egg wash and bake in a preheated oven @ 180°C with both elements on until golden brown, about 18 - 20 minutes, switching and rotating position of baking sheets halfway through baking time. 

Brush buns with melted butter or rub the buns with a stick of butter while they are still warm. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before serving. 

Serve with ketchup or just like this !
Labels: American, Beef, Bread Bakers, Cabbage, Cheese, International Cuisine, Mince, Spinach, Stuffed Bread

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.
For Bread Bakers this month we sharing "Stuffed Buns Recipes"

• Sneha’s Recipe: A Small Batch Nebraska Runzas  
• A Messy Kitchen: Custard Buns 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Ham and Cheese Stuffed Buns 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Hot Dog Flower Buns 
• Food Lust People Love: Nebraska Runzas  
• Magical Ingredients: Salted Caramel Apple Wreath   

American Parker House Rolls#BreadBakers

This Parker House Rolls are soft, buttery, fluffy and delicious. They are so light and easy to make and can be easily made ahead of time. The recipe for Parker House Rolls first started appearing in cookbooks in the 1880s.

For Bread Bakers this month our theme is American Breads, decided to try these rolls, there is no difference in preparing the dough - just as we make any other dinner rolls, only difference is in the shaping method.

These dinner rolls are made by flattening the center of a ball of dough with a rolling pin or skewer, then folding the dough in half and the folding of dough on itself while shaping the rolls.

The top of the dough is brushed with butter which gives a nice rich and buttery flavor to the parker house rolls. My tip - I have made these roll small, would suggest that they should be made a little bigger. These a really good to make sandwiches too.

Ingredients
350 Grams All Purpose Flour
135 Ml Milk
1½ Teaspoon Instant Yeast
35 Grams Sugar
¾ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
50 Grams Butter
1 Large Egg
Method
In to a bowl add in the lukewarm milk, yeast, sugar, salt and egg. Combine them together. Then add in the butter (preferably softened, at room temperature which is easy to blend).Now add the flour into this and combine everything together.

Now transfer the dough on to a clean work surface and we need to knead the dough until it forms a smooth and elastic dough.
Keep the well kneaded dough on the counter and cover it with a bowl. Let the dough sit and relax for 30 minutes. 

After 30 minutes this dough doubled in size.

After 30 minutes of resting the dough, place it on a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough using a rolling pin into an approximate square shape of 11 inches x 11 inches x ½ inch thick. So that the sheet has a thickness of ½ inch.

Brush the top of dough with softened butter or melted butter.
Divide it into equal pieces. The more similar they are in size, the more even they will get baked).

Now take a toothpick and make a light indent in the center.

Fold the dough on to itself, to ¾ of the length as shown above.

Place the rolls on the prepared baking tray (greased or lined with parchment paper) with the smooth surface on top. This will prevent the rolls from unfolding while they proof and bake.

Cover the dinner rolls with a plastic film and let them rise until they puff up really well. 

Bake the dinner rolls at 180°C with both elements on for 15-18 minutes. The baking duration may vary according to the size of the rolls. Bigger rolls will take longer and smaller rolls will get baked in less time.Brush them with butter as soon as they are out of the oven.

Enjoy the softest fluffiest, buttery Parker House Rolls! 

Labels: American, Dinner Rolls, Egg, Breads,Bread Bakers, International Cuisine

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.
For Bread Bakers this month we sharing "American Bread Recipes"

• All American Batter Bread with Discard from A Messy Kitchen
• American Parker House Rolls from Sneha's Recipe
• Mount Vernon Breakfast Gems from Food Lust People Love
• Spoon Rolls from Karen's Kitchen Stories

Mini Oat Pancakes With Guacamole Topping#SundayFunday

Gluten Free, Sugar Free & Low Carb pancakes are very tasty and healthy and make a delicious breakfast! A healthy breakfast ready in 15 minutes!

Ingredients 

80 Grams Oatmeal - I used quick cooking oats 

2 Eggs
Olive Oil/ Desi Ghee Or Butter - as required
¼ Teaspoon Salt
For The Guacamole Topping
1 Avocado Salt & Black pepper to taste 

Juice Of One Lime
5 Cherry Tomatoes - finely chopped
1 Scallion/ Spring Onion - finely chopped
Method

In bowl add the oats, salt, eggs and mix well. Grease a nonstick pan with little oil or ghee and make small mini pancakes. 

Let them cook till golden on both sides. 

Flipping after each side is golden. Fry on both sides until done.

For The Guacamole Topping 

Remove the stone and cut the avocado. Scoop out the flesh of the avocado with a tablespoon. add the salt, pepper and lemon juice mix well mashing it. then add the chopped cherry tomatoes and spring onion and mix well. 

Spread the filling on each pancake and enjoy these for breakfast or a quick dinner. Enjoy your meal!
Labels: Pancake, Oats, Gluten free, Sugar Free, Guacamole, Avocado, Scallions, Cherry Tomatoes, Healthy, Breakfast, Healthy Dinners, American, International Cuisine

For Sunday Funday we are celebrating National Oatmeal Month, check here to see other recipes.

• Sizzling Tastebuds: Almond meal Muffins with Oats and Honey 
• Sid's Sea Palm Cooking: Cranachan Trifle 
• Food Lust People Love: Goetta - Cincinnati Breakfast Sausage 
• Palatable Pastime: High Protein Scottish Porridge Oats 
• Karen's Kitchen Stories: Maple Pecan Oatmeal Scones 
• Sneha's Recipe: Mini Oat Pancakes With Guacamole Topping 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Mud Cookies 
• Mayuri's Jikoni: Oatmeal Banana Quick Bread 
• A Messy Kitchen: Oatmeal Honey Date Loaf 
• Amy's Cooking Adventures: Orange Cranberry Baked Oatmeal 

Keto Vegetarian Eggplant Rollatini

This Eggplant Rollatini recipe is a twist on a traditional Eggplant Parmesan and this is a vegetarian version. “Rollatini” is an Americanized version of the Italian word “involtini,” which describes small bundles of food made by rolling thin slices of meat or produce around a filling. 

Here I, have pan fried eggplant slices instead of deep frying. For the sauce have used my Keto Homemade Roasted Tomato Sauce. While this was baking in the oven great aroma of all deliciousness filled my kitchen. Try this and you will love it. This recipe works great as a vegetarian side for potluck & parties.

Serves - 4
Ingredients
2 Large Eggplants/Brinjals
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
½ Cup Keto Roasted Tomato Sauce
1 Medium Red Onion
2 Clove Garlic - Minced
2 Tablespoons Coriander or Basil Leaves - chopped
Salt & Red Pepper Flakes - to taste
½ Cup Homemade Basil Pesto 
½ Cup Greek Yogurt / Hung Curd
100 Grams Feta Cheese
1/3 Cup Pizza Cheese
1 Tablespoon Chopped Coriander / Basil Leaves - for garnish
Method
For The Sauce

Heat olive oil in a pan. Saute chopped onion, minced garlic until translucent. Add roasted tomato sauce, salt, red pepper flakes and cook until the sauce thickens.
Prepare The Eggplants

Trim off the ends of the eggplants. Slice them lengthwise into ¼ inch slices. Salt the eggplant slices generously and place them in a colander. Set aside for 20 minutes to draw moisture out of the eggplant.
Then rinse off the slices in water and pat them dry using paper towels.

Brush the slices with olive oil on both sides. Heat a griddle and roast the eggplants for about 5 minutes per side until browned. 

Set aside and allow to cool.
For The Stuffing
In a bowl, combine thick basil pesto, Greek yogurt and feta cheese. Mix well and season to taste.

Place the pesto mixture on the broader side of an eggplant slice (about a teaspoon of the filling), gently roll it away from you and place it in the baking try with seam side facing down.

Continue with the remaining eggplant slices.
Preheat oven to 180°C.
To Assemble

Spread the sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. 

Arrange all the rolled eggplants.

Again spread a layer of tomato sauce.

Sprinkle with pizza cheese on top and basil leaves. Cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and cheese is golden brown. 

Remove from the oven.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.
The combination of flavors and textures is fantastic. The filling offers a bright, creamy contrast to the silky eggplant, and the pesto adds delicious taste.  Enjoy! 
My Notes
Instead of greek yogurt you can use extra-firm tofu or paneer/cottage cheese.

Labels: Eggplant, Brinjal, Vegetarian, Cheese, Keto, Low Carb, Baked, Feta Cheese, Pesto Sauce, Side Dish, American, International Cuisine

Welcome to Holiday Side Dish Week 2025. See below for different side dish recipes to help you plan your holiday meals. Friday Holiday Side Dish Recipes

 

• Homemade Green Bean Casserole by Hezzi-D's Recipe Box
• Baked Pumpkin Rice Casserole by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Sweet Potato and Leek Gratin by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples by Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Keto Vegetarian Eggplant Rollatini by Sneha's Recipe
• Pear Compote by Art of Natural Living
• Creamy Baked Orzo by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Cheese Stuffed Garlic Rolls by Magical Ingredients