GERMAN BUN RECIPES

Steps:

• FILLING: In a large frying pan, cook the cabbage and onion together until the cabbage is completely softened and golden. ** This process can be hastened by adding a half-cup of water (or so) and covering the pan, but eventually cook all the liquid off before proceeding.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• In a separate pan, brown the hamburger and drain. ** Season with salt and pepper.
• Mix the cabbage/onion with the hamburger thoroughly. ** You may complete this part of the recipe in advance, refrigerating until needed, or just before you are ready to assemble the rolls.
• DOUGH: In a large mixing bowl combine 2 cups of the flour and the yeast.
• In a saucepan heat milk, sugar, butter and salt just till warm (115-120 degrees F) and butter is almost melted; stir constantly.
• Add to flour mixture; add eggs.
• Beat at low speed for 1/2 minute, then three minutes at high speed.
• Stir in as much remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon.
• Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total).
• Shape into a ball, and place in a greased bowl; turn once. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double (about 1 hour). Punch down and cover; let rest 10 minutes.
• ASSEMBLY: Roll out the dough into a large rectangle, and a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
• Cut into squares of 3 inches by 3 or 4 inches by 4.
• By the spoonful, place some filling mixture into the center of each square, apportioning all of the mixture among the squares.
• For each, bring the two opposite corner ends of the dough square up to meet one another, then do the same with remaining ends and pinch them (all 4) together with your fingers.
• You will see that you now have open slits along the diagnals; pinch these together as well, making a seam of each. ** Water on your fingertips will facilitate them staying"glued" together.
• The end product should be a square with a seam running from each corner to the center where all four are joined.
• Set the squares on a baking sheet (if you had trouble keeping the seams closed, you can flip them over so that the seams are against the baking sheet, thereby keeping all the filling in place and making a nicer presentation).
• Let raise 30 minutes. ** Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 °F for 30 minutes or until golden brown. When removing from the oven brush each bun with melted butter.

Steps:

• Make the pastry. Put the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Add the butter and shortening and rub in until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in 4 tablespoons of cold water and mix to a soft dough. Cover with cling film and chill while you make the filling.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/ fan160°C/gas 4. Mix all the filling ingredients together in a large bowl, with enough milk to just moisten it.
• Dust a clean work surface with flour. Roll out three-quarters of the dough to a rectangle large enough to line the base and sides of a 900g loaf tin. Drape into the tin and press up against sides, smoothing out any creases. Tightly pack in the filling and press down well. Roll out the remaining pastry to a rectangle large enough to fit the top. Dampen the edge of the pastry in the tin with water, press the pastry lid on top to seal and trim off the edges. Bake for 2 hours. Allow to cool for 1 hour.
• Remove the black bun from the tin, then cut into slices to serve.