Food Friday : Homemade Calzones (Pizza Pockets)

Last week Nick made us some baked Calzones, which are really just pizzas with the dough folded over and pinched shut, to form a crescent shaped pocket.

(We were actually calling them Panzerottis but after looking it up, I saw that Panzerottis are deep fried, rather than baked. But then I saw some fried Calzones too, so now I don’t know! So I have called these Baked Calzones.)

He used the Bread-maker to make the dough but you can make your pizza dough by hand or buy it fresh/raw in the bakery section of your grocery store.

To make them : Roll or stretch your dough out to a circular shape in the size you want (smaller for individual pockets, and larger for pockets to serve two). Spoon some pizza sauce just off centre of your round, and then layer on your favourite pizza toppings, finishing with a handful of grated Mozzarella cheese. We used low-fat skim-milk cheese and you really hardly notice a difference from full fat. Our toppings included green peppers, onions, sauteed mushrooms, spicy artisan pepperoni, Kalamata olives and fresh basil leaves.

Then fold over the other side and pinch closed along the edge, forming a crescent shape. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Eat with your hands like a sandwich or use a knife and fork. If you have extra pizza sauce, serve it on the side or poured over top.

Note : We made a double recipe, which made 4 large pockets, each of which was shared between two people. Two were put into the freezer (unbaked, freeze uncovered and then package after they’re frozen) and were later baked in a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Here is a recipe for Pizza Sauce …

recipe

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Ingredients
  • 6-8 very ripe tomatoes (try finding them in the ‘quick sale’ section of the produce section, where there are often tomatoes at a deep discount because they are very ripe. Those are perfect for this sauce.)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic, inner core removed first.
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • pinch of sugar
  • 1 teaspoons each dried oregano and basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried hot pepper flakes (if you like it spicy)
Instructions

Cut tomatoes in half (across the grain) and lightly squeeze out juice and seeds, reserving the liquids for another purpose or drink them (they’re good and good for you!).

Chop tomatoes.

Heat olive oil in a heavy saucepan and saute onion and garlic for about 2 minutes, stirring so they don’t burn. Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add seasonings and continue cooking until the right consistency is achieved. Puree with an immersion blender.

Description

Pizza sauce

Ingredients part 2
    Instructions part 2

    Ingredients part 3
      Instructions part 3

      Ingredients part 4
        Instructions part 4
        Pizza sauce

        Happy Friday!
        xo loulou

        main-dishesrecipes