If you love pizza but want a less messy option for eating, you should give calzone stuffed pizza a try. This delicious recipe combines the best of both worlds by tucking pizza fillings into a homemade dough pocket that is then baked until golden brown.
You can use any type of pizza crust for this recipe, but we highly recommend making your own from scratch. This will allow you to control the ingredients and flavor of your calzone. You can even make a batch of this pizza dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for quick and easy pizza and calzone making.
To start, dissolve the yeast in warm water in a large mixing bowl. Once the yeast is active, add sugar, oil and salt. Gradually stir in flour until a soft, smooth dough forms.
The next step is to divide the dough into 4-6 equal parts, depending on your desired pizza or calzone size. Then, let the dough balls rest in the fridge for 16 to 24 hours. After the dough is rested, you can either knead each ball on a floured work surface or cut them into circles (depending on your preference).
While you can use pre-made pizza sauce for this recipe, it’s definitely best to make a batch of homemade tomato sauce. The flavor of this sauce is richer, more savory and just tastes better than the stuff you buy in the grocery store. Plus, you can easily control the amount of salt and other seasonings in your homemade pizza sauce.
You can also make this calzone recipe with any kind of meat or cheese you like. This includes your standard pizza toppings like pepperoni, Canadian bacon and ham but also other proteins such as chicken, steak strips or even sausage or meatballs. Veggies are another great calzone filling to experiment with, such as spinach, bell peppers, sliced mushrooms and pickled jalapenos.
Once you’ve assembled your calzone, you’ll need to lightly moisten the edges of each circle with water. This will help seal the calzone so it doesn’t crack open during baking. Lastly, cut two to three slits into each calzone to allow steam to escape while baking.
When you’re ready to bake, dust a wooden pizza peel with semolina flour and transfer your calzone onto it. You can also perform this entire process on a sheet of parchment paper if you prefer. Bake the calzone in your pizza oven according to its instructions, until it is golden brown and slightly crispy. When finished, serve the calzone with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
To reheat the leftover calzone, place it in the oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, or until warmed through and golden brown on the bottom. If you prefer, you can also heat the calzone on a hot pan or pizza sheet instead of on the pizza steel. Just be sure to dust the pan or sheet with a little semolina flour first so it doesn’t stick! pizza calzone