Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Calzones

Calzones, mmm. The last time I had one, I was definitely not vegan. Maybe I was vegetarian, but I just can't remember. Anyhow, ever since I've been vegan (15 years now), I haven't had a calzone, and that just had to change. So, since I'm such a whiz at making my own pizzas now :-), I decided to go head-first in trying my hand at calzones. Now, I have yet to actually look at any recipes for calzones. I thought, Pizzas, I can make pizzas, therefore, I can make calzones. So, that's what I did. I have no idea if my recipe is authentic or not, but it sure worked for me, and for my children, who've never had calzones, loved them, and that's good enough for me. I started with my pizza dough, added some fillings, and voila, five calzones! Yay for us! Easy as pizza pie - give it a try.


A hot, steamy calzone, cut in half, and ready to be consumed


A ball of soft dough on a floured surface


Dough rolled out just larger than a dinner plate


Filling up the calzone with goodies


Calzone ready for the oven


Just out of the oven, resting before being cut in half

Calzones

Ingredients:

Your favorite pizza dough, or you can use my recipe (link above) - If you use mine, it's large enough to divide into five balls of dough
Extra flour for rolling dough
Your favorite toppings - we used:
Organic pizza sauce
Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheese - cheddar style, finely grated
Gimme Lean Sausage, made into small meatballs and sauteed
Kale, torn into pieces
Fresh pineapple, diced small
Black olives, sliced into thirds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Divide dough into five sections. Shape a section into a ball. On a floured surface, roll out each section into a circle a little larger than a dinner plate. Do NOT toss the dough, as you would for an actual pizza. To ensure a round shape, start at the center of the dough, and roll to the edge, all around. Turn the dough as needed to keep it as uniform as possible. Spread your pizza sauce all over the rolled out dough, keeping the edges clear of sauce about one inch. Sprinkle your cheese on sauce. Add your other toppings on one half of the sauce and cheese. Fold the half of the dough over that doesn't have all the extra toppings on it. Pinch the edges together to seal it shut. Press fork all across the sealed edge to further crimp and seal it, and it gives it a nice look, too. Make four short slits on top to release some of the steam while baking. Bake each calzone for 20 minutes. Let rest for five minutes before eating or cutting in half. Makes huge calzones that you can eat alone for dinner, and maybe have some left over for lunch the next day. Feeds five hungry vegans.

16 comments:

  1. mm i love calzones! i usually just order it without cheese, after a few funny looks i get my food and its usually just fine! lol yours look so good though!!! and if its as simple as your recipe sounds..i should be able to do it:)hahah ttysoon bm

    ReplyDelete
  2. You put pineapple in it! Yum!! I only had a calzone once in my life. It was a vegan one while we were staying in Boulder several years ago and it was so huge, and good. This one sounds reallllly good!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your dough looks so soft and perfect...and what a delicious pile of goodies inside! 15-years is a long time! You're such a veteran vegan! It hasn't been that long since I've had a calzone...I've actually had some vegan ones from Pizza Pi here in Seattle, but now I definitely want to try some at home too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I recently saw another calzone recipe! Is this a sign??

    ReplyDelete
  5. OMG that looks so delish!! I wanna try it but haven't had the best luck with making my own dough.....fingers crossed

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can't remember the last time I had a calzone, but you're right, it's time to rectify that. Maybe I'll follow Rose's lead and head over to Pizza Pi. Or maybe I'll just make my own.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Its so sad I cannot eat yeast anymore...this looks divine.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like that you put pineapple in it. I never tried pineapple on pizza until probably a year ago, and now I love it. You always make the best stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, these look so good! I haven't had calzones in a very long time. These are going on my menu for next week! Pineapple sounds like a great addition.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Michelle, I know you can do it! I've never ordered one without cheese, but maybe I should give it a try. Nah, I like to make my own now. :-)

    Vegan Flower, SR loves pineapple, so we had it on hand for our calzones. Thanks for the compliment.

    S.V., Mmm, is right!

    Rose, this dough really is soft and so easy to work with. You're so lucky to have so many options in Seattle.

    Maud, Is it? You tell me!

    Veganopolis, I think you'll be really pleased with this dough.

    Andrea, rectify it this weekend, please. :-)

    Millie, don't make me sad now.

    Jenny, thank you! SR has to take credit for the pineapple, though. She loves it on her pizza, so I thought it would work in calzones, too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michelle, I hope you like them!

    Thanks, Tiffany!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You have such an amazing blog!!! I want that calzone soooo bad. I'm horrible with dough but you're making me want to give it a try. Thanks you :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. These look wonderful. Totally going to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yum! I've been craving something like this. I was thinking the same thing recently, that I should just use pizza dough for this. Looks like they turned out wonderfully, so I'm convinced!

    By the way, I love your step-by-step photos for this :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love Calzones, and like to enjoy my very own cafe latte made at home with them.

    Great recipe!

    ReplyDelete