A calzone looks like a moon-shaped pastry, but it is basically an inside-out pizza that you can fill with your favorite cheeses, meats and vegetables. Calzones are easy to make if you're looking for something quick to have for dinner.
Instructions
1. Fill a small bowl with one cup of warm water. Add a quarter of a package of bread yeast to the bowl. Once it dissolves, mix in 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar and a cup of flour. Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour until the dough forms.
2. Add a light dusting of flour to a bread board or a clean kitchen surface. Knead the dough on the board for 5 minutes.
3. Place the dough in another bowl with 1 or 2 tsp of olive oil. Turn the dough over in the bowl, cover it with a lid or a towel, then let it rise at room temperature for at least 40 minutes.
4. Combine in a large bowl 1/2 cup of ricotta with shredded mozzarella or cheddar, or use all three if you're a cheese lover. Add to the mix 1 tbsp basil or oregano, 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms, and 1/2 cup of your favorite meats, such as pepperoni, ham, sausage or chicken. Add about 1/2 cup of chopped black olives, onions or peppers if you want more vegetables. Stir the bowl of ingredients together, cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate it.
5. Turn on your oven to 375 degrees F. While the oven is preheating, remove the dough from its bowl, gently punch down the dough to release any air, then divide it into two even parts. Place them onto the floured bread board, then flatten the dough into 8-inch circles by using a rolling pin.
6. Get the bowl of ingredients from Step 4. Fill half of one dough circle with one-half of the mixture. Fold over the uncovered half to make a moon shape, then press down the edges with a fork to form the first calzone. Repeat the process for the second circle. Next, grease a cookie sheet with butter or olive oil before placing the calzones.
7. Beat one egg, then brush it over both calzones to get a golden crust. You can also brush some olive oil over the calzones. Bake them in the 375-degree oven for 30 minutes. This recipe yields two large calzones, so you may want to double the ingredients to make more.
Tags: bowl ingredients, bowl with, bread board, cover with, your favorite