Best 4 The Versatile Calzone Recipes

EASY CALZONE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 °F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with oil.
• Divide the dough into 8 equally sized pieces. Roll each piece into a 1/4" thick circle.
• Place the filling on half of each circle (pizza sauce, ricotta, pepperoni, salami and shredded mozzarella). Make sure to leave the edges clean to allow for sealing the calzone. Fold the side over the filling and crimp the edges.
• Place calzones on a baking sheet, leaving space apart. Cut a small vent on the top of each calzone. Brush the tops with oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

THREE-CHEESE CALZONES

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for diffused indirect heat by building the hot coals evenly around the perimeter of the grill. Remove the center ring from the grill grate and insert a medium cast-iron skillet. Invert another larger cast-iron skillet over the top. This acts as a pizza oven for your outdoor grill. (If using a gas grill, heat to medium-high heat.)
• For the calzone dough: Add the flour, honey, salt and yeast to a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Then add 1 3/4 cups room temperature water and the olive oil and pulse again until the dough comes together into a rough ball and rides around the bowl. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead a few times until a smooth elastic ball forms. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces and place each in a quart-sized deli container or gallon-sized resealable plastic bag with a drizzle of olive oil. Allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate overnight and up to 5 days. This makes enough for 3 calzones. Save the extra dough in the freezer for another time. It will last up to 2 months.
• When ready to use, remove the dough from the refrigerator and take it out of its storage vessel while still cold. Allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 1 hour before grilling.
• For the cheese mixture: In the meantime, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, pecorino and herbs in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• To make the calzones: On a lightly floured surface, roll out 2 balls of dough into 6-inch rounds. Spoon half of the cheese mixture onto each round, spreading it evenly but leaving a 1-inch border, then fold each round over in half. Crimp the edges with a fork or your fingers to seal it and place them onto the inverted cast-iron. Cover the grill and bake for 15 minutes. Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the calzones with extra-virgin olive oil, cover the grill and bake until golden brown and the dough is cooked through, another 5 minutes.
• Remove from the grill and let sit for a few minutes before digging in!
• (Alternatively, you can place the calzones on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a 375 degrees F oven until golden brown and the dough is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before eating.)

EASY CALZONES

Steps:

• Place the frozen rolls (or frozen bread loaves) on a baking sheet to thaw. Cover with a tea towel and let thaw and rise for 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and allow to cook for a couple of minutes. Add the sausage and cook until brown, crumbling the sausage as you stir. Add the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Remove from the skillet and allow to cool on a plate.
• In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, some pepper, parsley and 2 eggs.
• When the sausage is cool, stir it into the cheese mixture and set aside.
• When the rolls are thawed and risen, roll them out on a lightly floured surface until paper thin. Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons of the filling onto half of the dough circle. Fold half of the dough over itself, and then press the edges to seal.
• Brush the surface of each calzone with the beaten egg, and then bake until nice and golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Serve with warm Marinara Sauce.
• Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil into a hot pan over medium-high heat and throw in the garlic and chopped onions and give them a stir.
• Now add the wine (or chicken broth), whisking to deglaze the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the liquid reduces by half.
• Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of sugar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Toward the end of the cooking process, chop up your fresh parsley and basil and add it to the sauce to taste, stirring to combine.

THE VERSATILE CALZONE

Steps:

• Dough: Mix together water, yeast, 4 cups wheat flour, salt, and oil.
• Add white flour until you have a dough that follows the spoons around the bowl but still sticks to the sides of the bowl. Let dough rise to double (about an hour), punch down, and shape. I don't let mine rise again once I've shaped it, but it does some rising of its own as it cooks.
• Fillings: Ooooh, just have fun!
• Depending on the filling, top calzones for the last 5 minutes of baking with: egg wash, honey glaze, extra cheese.
• Also, make extra liquid parts when you make the fillings and freeze along with the calzones for a dipping sauce.
• Be sure to wrap with a paper towel when reheating in the microwave.
• (reheating in toaster oven is preferable.).
• Cook calzones at 300°F for 30 minutes.
• These can be frozen before or after cooking. When cooking a raw, frozen calzone, cook for 50 minutes at 300°F.