Description
This classic Calzone recipe features a golden, crispy crust filled with creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and tangy pizza sauce, making for a perfect Italian handheld meal. Easy to prepare with either homemade or store-bought dough, these calzones bake to a golden perfection and are served with extra pizza sauce for dipping, ideal for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Calzone Dough
- 1 prepared pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
Fillings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (plus extra for dipping)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for filling and topping)
Finishing
- Olive oil for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats to ensure even heat distribution for a crispy crust.
- Prepare Dough: Divide the prepared pizza dough into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a circle roughly 1/4-inch thick, which forms the base for your calzone.
- Apply Sauce: Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over one half of each dough circle, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges to prevent leaking during baking.
- Add Cheeses & Seasoning: Evenly spread half of the ricotta cheese over the sauce, then layer with half of the shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top and season with salt and pepper to enhance flavors.
- Seal Calzone: Fold the plain half of the dough over the cheese-filled side to create a semi-circle. Press the edges firmly to seal, then roll and crimp the edges with your fingers for a secure closure.
- Brush & Top: Brush the tops of each calzone generously with olive oil to promote browning and brush on additional grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor and crust crunchiness.
- Bake: Transfer the calzones either onto the preheated pizza stone or onto a baking sheet if a stone is unavailable. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown and crisp.
- Serve: Allow the calzones to cool for a few minutes before slicing to avoid burning from hot fillings. Serve warm with extra pizza sauce on the side for dipping and enjoy your freshly baked calzones.
Notes
- You can use homemade or store-bought pizza dough, whichever you prefer or have on hand.
- Ensure the edges are well sealed to prevent cheese and sauce from leaking during baking.
- Using a pizza stone is recommended for a better crust but a baking sheet works fine as well.
- Feel free to add additional fillings such as pepperoni, spinach, or mushrooms to customize your calzones.
- Letting the calzones cool slightly before cutting helps maintain the filling inside and prevents burns.
