Simple Calzone Recipe – A Lovely Mess

Whereas I like home made pizza, I’m additionally an enormous fan of pizza’s modest cousin, the calzone. And whereas I’m all for a home made calzone recipe (from scratch), this publish is extra about methods to make simple calzone utilizing several types of crust mixes or store-bought dough.

Calzone is completely different from stromboli in two methods. Stromboli is rolled, like a pizza cinnamon roll, whereas a calzone solely has a high and backside layer. If a calzone is a pressed sandwich, stromboli is a pinwheel burrito. I additionally consider calzone like a pizza pocket (or my childhood favourite: Sizzling Pocket).

The second distinction is calzone is normally made with ricotta cheese (or a mixture of cheese together with ricotta). This provides moisture to the calzone.

Associated: Detroit-Type Pizza, Deep Dish Pizza Recipe, Tomato Sauce, Pizza Sauce.

What’s a Calzone?

Calzone = Dough + Sauce + Cheese + Fillings

The elements in a calzone recipe are dough, pizza sauce, cheese and fillings, corresponding to pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, and some other greens or protein you favor. You too can make a cheese calzone with out some other fillings.

One other key to nice calzone is it’s best to serve it alongside dipping sauce—ideally marinara. No matter pink sauce you utilize contained in the calzone might be served for dipping, so that you don’t needed need to make or purchase two completely different sauces until you need to.

From Scratch Dough Choices

For a simple calzone recipe, use one of many store-bought choices under. However, in case you are trying to make calzone from scratch, listed here are few pizza dough recipes that may work effectively:

Different pizza dough recipes can work, however keep away from something that’s tremendous skinny or crispy. These won’t bake as effectively. It’s greatest to stay to a pizza dough recipe that accommodates yeast, though there are some exceptions.

Retailer-Purchased Calzone Dough Choices

• Frozen dough for bread loaves – That is my favourite store-bought possibility. Every loaf will make three calzones, so this complete bundle you see above would make 9 calzones if I used it suddenly. You will have to thaw and roll this dough out with a rolling pin.
• Refrigerated pizza dough (like Pillsbury) – I additionally like this selection as a result of it really works effectively and is simple to form into various completely different calzones, relying on the dimensions.
• Dry pizza crust combine (like Jiffy) – Though this may work and is essentially the most shelf-stable possibility, it might probably make your calzone crust form of skinny and dry.

That is the frozen bread dough earlier than rolling it out. No matter dough you utilize, be certain that to roll it out to a desired thickness earlier than baking.

For those who depart the dough tremendous thick (greater than 1/2 an inch), it might be form of doughy on the within whereas totally baked to burning on the skin. Regulate the bake time as wanted relying on what dough recipe you utilize.

Calzone Fillings

• Sauce – I like pink sauce. You received’t want a lot for the within of every calzone—only a couple spoonfuls on the most. However you will have some on the facet for dipping. You may make calzone with different sauces like Alfredo or different pasta sauces or BBQ sauce. Any sauce you want on pizza you’ll in all probability like in a calzone.
• Cheese – I normally use a mix of ricotta cheese and shredded mozzarella. The ricotta cheese provides moisture to the within of the calzone so it doesn’t dry out in baking. That being mentioned, if you wish to skip the ricotta, one of the best substitution is contemporary mozzarella, which has larger moisture.
• Toppings – Pizza toppings can grow to be fillings for calzone. My household likes pepperoni, and if I’ve some contemporary basil, I’ll normally add that too. If you wish to use greens, you might need to take into account cooking them barely first, like sautéing bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms. However that is private desire and simply relies on what sort of textures you favor.

Instructions

Roll out the dough. For this bake time I’m recommending right here, the dough must be roughly 8-10 inches in diameter and 1/2 an inch thick or much less.

Add a spoonful or two of sauce and unfold kind of evenly towards the sides, leaving slightly edge throughout. Put every calzone on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

On half of the calzone add 2-3 tablespoons ricotta cheese, crumbled. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese or parmesan cheese. Then add a handful of any toppings you want.

Fold the dough over on itself, making an empanada form (half moon). I like to make use of a fork to press the sides collectively, however you can too roll them up. This can rely in your dough.

Non-compulsory: Brush the tops with an egg wash earlier than baking. This can create a golden brown coloration.

As soon as baked, serve alongside with dipping sauce. If you wish to really feel wholesome, possibly add a salad. You do you. Take pleasure in! -Emma

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