I finally got a chance to make a batch of these sweet dough bread pockets using the recipe posted on The Frugal Hausfrau‘s blog. Besides using leftover shredded sauerbraten instead of ground beef and adding about half a cup of grated old cheddar cheese to the filling once it was cooled, I also tried an alternative shaping method. It didn’t make the assembly much faster although the seams didn’t open up as often.
Square runzas – half the dough rolled out about 1/4 inch thick, 10 inches by 15 inches in size, squared off and cut into six 5 inch by 5 inch squares
Round runzas – 85 gms of dough patted out to a circle that was about 4 inches in diameter
Review: The recipe estimated being able to make a dozen runzas but I ended up with fourteen, and still had filling left over, so I’d cut back on the amount of cabbage used from about four cups to 2 1/2-3 cups in the future. Making the filling the day before, so that it has a chance to cool, is also advised. On the whole though, the dough was simple to make and the results were quite tasty. My shaping, especially on the square runzas, needs work.
ETA (01/02/2019): If you don’t want to use ground beef, try ground chicken or turkey. Or even pork.
Cooking is Fun ... Really!! 
I’m always impressed with how you can just whip things up like this.
Thank you but I always start by looking at several recipes and a video or two before actually attempting to make it myself. 🙂
How awesome! Those look absolutely delightful. I approve the meat substitution 🙂
Thank you. The dough is a real joy to work with. I bet you could even use chinese bbq pork in there. I think I saw a version with marinated tofu inside.
That’s a great idea. I make bao tzi sometimes, and I could see this being a terrific variation. Thanks! 🙂
I love baked Chinese bbq pork buns and have made them.
https://aboleyn01.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/baked-chinese-buns-and-other-stuff/
The steamed ones too with a very different type of dough. 🙂
https://aboleyn01.wordpress.com/2017/07/23/1461/
I like to mix things up a bit … showing I’m not a ‘one trick pony’ when it comes to national cuisines. 🙂
Bialys next.
Good for you, that’s wonderful! I love bialys, so I’ll look forward to seeing them if/when you post 🙂
These look great. And they look like they’d make a wonderful lunch on the go. It annoys me to no end when I have filling left over and not enough pastry! I usually freeze it until I feel like making dough again!
I tried to eyeball equal portions to fill each runza so that I would use it all up but there was just too much per pocket. I froze the leftovers and may try making a batch of Chinese steamed buns.
They look great, very appetizing! We shaped them differently, though, more like ovals, although I’ve seen round ones sold also, long time ago.
Thank you.
You re really an amazing baker! They look and sounds delicious and also very unusual. Thank you for introducing this blog!
Thank you for your kind remark. I think I concentrate on a lot of bread dishes because they’re inexpensive to make, tasty, filling and freeze well. 🙂