Description
A golden, crispy calzone stuffed with gooey mozzarella, creamy ricotta, savory tomato sauce, and your choice of fillings like pepperoni, vegetables, or chicken. This easy homemade Italian favorite is perfect for a comforting meal with simple ingredients and straightforward preparation.
Ingredients
Calzone Dough
- 1 pizza dough (enough for 2-3 calzones)
Fillings
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup cooked fillings (choose from pepperoni slices, sautéed vegetables, or cooked chicken)
Finishing Touches
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the calzones evenly and developing a golden crust.
- Roll Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into circular shapes approximately 8-10 inches in diameter to serve as the base and top of your calzones.
- Add Cheese: Spread an even layer of ricotta cheese first, followed by the shredded mozzarella, on one half of each dough circle, leaving room on the edges to seal.
- Add Fillings: Scatter your choice of cooked fillings such as pepperoni, vegetables, or chicken on top of the cheese, then spoon a little tomato sauce over the fillings to add moisture and flavor.
- Fold and Seal: Fold the dough over the filling half to create a half-moon shape. Press the edges firmly together and crimp them to seal well and prevent filling leakage while baking.
- Add Finishings: Brush the top of each calzone with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning to enhance flavor and help the crust brown beautifully.
- Bake: Place calzones on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crisp.
Notes
- Serve calzones warm with extra tomato sauce for dipping.
- Do not overfill the dough to avoid leaks during baking.
- You can customize fillings based on dietary preferences or what you have on hand.
- For a crispier crust, allow calzones to cool slightly on a wire rack after baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
