Nebraska Beef Buns

Nebraska Beef Buns

Bierocks

(Beef and Cabbage Buns With Cheese)

Makes 12 Bierocks

This is a recipe given to me by a friend.  I have not made it yet but plan to do so as I am expecting company.  This will fill the bill when we are out touring and return home for a quick meal.

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Filling:

4 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 pounds 90%  lean ground beef

Salt and pepper

1 onion chopped fine

1/2 small head cabbage, cored and chopped fine (4 cups)

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

8 ounces Colby Jack cheese shredded, 2 cups

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Dough:

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup water

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 cup sugar

31/2-33/4 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon rapid rise yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, slightly beaten, plus i large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon water

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For the filling:  Heat 2 teaspoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking.  Add beef, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 teasppon pepper and cook, breaking u pieces with spoon, until liquid evaporates and meat begins to sizzle, 10 to 15 minutes.  Drain meat in colander and set aside.

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Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to now empty Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering.  Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, just until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes.  Stir in drained beef, cabbage and chicken broth.  Bring to simmer, cover, and cook until cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes.  Uncover and continue to cook until liquid evaporates and mixture begins to sizzle, 5 to 7 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Transfer to a bowl and let cool 15 minutes.  Stir in Colby Jack cheese and let cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate until ready to assemble bierocks.

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For The Dough:   Meanwhile grease large bowl.  Combine milk, water, butter and sugar in 2 cup liquid measuring cup.  Microwave until temperature registers 110 degrees, 1 to 2 minutes.  Using stand mixer fitted with dough hook, mix 3 1/2 cups flour, yeast, and salt on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.  With mixer running, slowly add milk mixture and single beaten egg until incorporated and dough comes together, about 3 minutes.  Increase speed to medium-low and continue to mix until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides of bowl, about 8 minutes.  If after 4 minutes dough looks wet, add remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until dough clears sides of bowl but sticks to bottom.  Transfer dough to greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double in size 50 to 60 minutes.

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 Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower middle positions and heat oven to 375 degrees.  Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.  Transfer dough to a lightly floured counter and divide into 12 equal portions.  Form dough pieces into balls, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes.

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 Working with 1 dough ball at a time (keep remaining balls covered with plastic), roll out into 51/2 inch round with rolling pin.  Transfer 1/2 cup lightly packed filling to center of round.   Use hands to press filling into compact mound.  Stretch dough over filling and pinch edges to form bun.  Arrange 6 bierocks, seam side down on each prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart.  Cover with plastic and let rise until doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.

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Discard plastic, brush bierocks with egg wash, and bake until golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking.  Transfer sheets to wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.  Serve.

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To Make Ahead  Baked, cooled bierocks can be tightly wrapped in aluminum foil, placed in zipper-lock bag and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.  To reheat adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.  Place foil wrapped bierocks directly on the oven rack until heated through, about 10 minutes if refrigerated or 60 minutes if frozen.