Easy Homemade Calzones
Easy Homemade Calzones are delicious and a versatile dish that is perfect for a cozy night in or a quick meal on the go. Making your calzones at home is easy and allows you to customize them with your favorite ingredients. In this recipe, we will show you how to create a mouthwatering homemade calzone that will impress your family and friends. From the crispy outer crust to the gooey cheese and flavorful filling, this easy homemade calzone recipe will quickly become a favorite in your household. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and let’s get cooking!
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Tips and Tricks On Making EAsy Homemade Calzone
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- Dough perfection: Use a good pizza dough recipe for your calzone. Make sure the dough is elastic and easy to work with. Let it rise properly to achieve a light and airy texture.
- Fillings variety: Get creative with your fillings. While traditional calzones have tomato sauce, cheese, and meats, feel free to experiment with different combinations. Like veggies, different cheeses, or even fruits for a sweet twist.
- Sealing technique: Ensure your calzone is well sealed to prevent filling from leaking during baking. Use a fork to crimp the edges or try the braiding technique where you fold and twist the edges together for a decorative finish.
- Baking method: Preheat your oven and use a hot baking stone or tray to achieve a crispy crust. Brush the calzone with olive oil or egg wash before baking to get a golden-brown finish.
- Serving suggestions: Let the calzone cool slightly before slicing to avoid the filling oozing out. Serve with a side of marinara sauce or a simple salad for a complete meal.
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Ingredients Notes
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- Olive oil: for sauteing the veggies
- Mushrooms: cleaned and sliced
- Red onion: one medium size or 2 small ones, and sliced
- Bell pepper: I used green bell pepper to contrast the color of the other ingredients. Deseed and cut it into thin slices
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Italian seasoning: To bring the Italian flavor of the calzones
- One pizza dough recipe: You can use store-bought or make it from scratch
- Ten pieces of pepperoni for each calzone
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Shredded Mozzarella cheese: you can also use fresh mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese: for filling and topping
- Egg yolk and milk: for the egg wash
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How To Make It Easy Homemade Calzones
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Time needed: 1 hour and 50 minutes
STEP-BY-STEP
- MAKE THE DOUGH
You can make the dough from scratch or use a store-bought pizza dough. When you make my pizza dough recipe, you will yield about 6-8 calzones. Sometimes the store-bought pizza dough is smaller. In that case, you probably need 2 packages of your store-bought pizza dough.
- SAUTE THE VEGGIES
Heat a nonstick skillet with oil. Add the mushrooms and saute until tender. Add the onion and bell pepper then season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and stir to combine. Cook the veggies until the onion is tender and the bell pepper is crisp-tender. Set aside to cool.
- ROLL THE DOUGH
If you’re making the pizza dough from scratch, divide it into 8 pieces (about 8″-10″ in size). Roll the dough as thin as possible to achieve some crispiness. Use a saucepan lid to cut the dough into circles. This way you’ll have a nice even shape for your calzone.
- TOPPINGS
Layer slices of pepperoni, ricotta cheese, sauteed vegetables, and a combination of shredded cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses on one half of the dough.
- FOLD
Dap the edges with water to seal. Fold the other half of the dough over the toppings and crimp the edges to seal the calzone. Make a few slits on the top to allow the steam to escape during baking. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle some more Parmesan cheese on top.
- BAKE
Bake the calzone in a preheated oven at 400ºF for about 18-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It’s important to not overfill it with ingredients that release moisture during baking. Make sure to thoroughly drain any wet fillings such as vegetables or cooked meats before adding them to the calzone.
Brush the outer surface of the dough with olive oil or egg wash before baking. This will help create a golden, crispy exterior that adds to the overall texture of the calzone.
Cool at room temperature, then place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Placed the wrapped calzones in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you want to freeze them, wrap the calzones individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag. When ready to eat, simply reheat them in the oven at 350ºF until heated through.
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What Can We EAT Calzones With
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Calzones are a delicious Italian dish that can be enjoyed on their own or paired with various accompaniments to enhance the dining experience. Here are some suggestions on what you can eat them with:
- Marina Sauce: A classic choice, marinara sauce is a popular dipping sauce for calzones. Its rich tomato flavor complements the cheesy and savory filling of the calzone.
- Pesto Sauce: For a fresh and herby twist, try dipping your calzone in pesto sauce. The vibrant flavors of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese can elevate the taste of your calzone.
- Garlic Butter: Brushing your calzone with garlic-infused butter before or after baking can add a delicious aroma and flavor. you can also use garlic butter as a dipping sauce for an extra burst of savory goodness.
- Ranch Dressing: If you enjoy a creamy and tangy dip, ranch dressing can be a delightful choice to accompany your calzone. The herby notes can balance out the richness of the calzone.
- Balsamic Glaze: For a touch of sweetness and acidity, drizzle some balsamic glaze over your calzone or use it as a dipping sauce. The complex flavors of balsamic vinegar can add depth to the dish.
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Recommended Recipes
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Easy Homemade Calzones
Equipment
- baking sheet pan
- Nonstick skillet
- Spatula
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
FOR THE PIZZA DOUGH
- homemade pizza dough recipe, about 6-8 calzones or 2 packages of store-bought pizza dough depending on how much calzone you want to make.
FOR THE FILLING
- 6 Baby Bella mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, deseed and thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 package of pepperoni, about 6 oz.
- 1/2 cup Ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, more for topping
FOR THE EGG WASH
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk or water
Instructions
- PIZZA DOUGH: You can get the recipe for my Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe or use a store-bought dough. See notes.
- FILLING: Saute the veggies. Heat a nonstick skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until crisp-tender. Season with salt, ground pepper, and Italian seasoning, then stir to combine. Remove from the heat, transfer in a bowl, then set aside to cool.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface, and use an 8"-10" inch cutter or saucepan lid to cut the dough (this allows you to have an even size calzones).
- Next, layer the slices of pepperoni, ricotta cheese, sauteed veggies, and a combination of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese on one half of the dough.
- Dab water around the edges to seal well. Fold the other half of the dough over the toppings and crimp the edges to seal the calzone. Make a few slits on the top to allow the steam to escape during baking.
- BAKE: Brush with egg wash and sprinkle more Parmesan cheese on top. Bake the calzone in a preheated 400ºF for about 18-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Video
Notes
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