Pan-Fried Calzones

Pan-fried calzone is a delicious and practical dish for an Italian-style dinner. Here is a basic recipe to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 300 g of pizza dough (you can use ready-made fresh dough or make it at home)
• 150 g of mozzarella cheese
• 100 g of cooked ham
• Tomato sauce as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt as needed
• Oregano
• Other ingredients to taste (such as mushrooms, salami, vegetables, etc.)

Preparation

1. If you don’t already have pizza dough, start by preparing it and allowing it to rise. Otherwise, take your ready-made dough and divide it into balls of about 80-100 grams each.
2. Roll out each ball of dough into a thin circle on a lightly floured surface.
3. Spread some tomato sauce in the center of each circle of dough, leaving the edges clear.
4. Add the mozzarella cut into small pieces, the cooked ham, and any other ingredients you desire. Remember to keep the ingredients in the center to prevent them from spilling out during cooking.
5. Sprinkle a bit of oregano and a pinch of salt over the fillings.
6. Fold each disk of dough in half, sealing the edges well to form the calzone. You can use a fork to press and seal the edges.
7. Heat a drizzle of oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook the calzone over medium-low heat, covered with a lid, for about 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
8. Once the calzone is ready and well cooked both on the outside and inside, transfer it to a plate and let it rest for a minute before serving.

Serve the calzones hot to fully enjoy their gooey goodness. If you like, you can also add ingredients typical of your region or experiment with different fillings according to your taste. The beauty of calzones is that they are very versatile!

Curiosity

The calzone is a variant of pizza that originated in Campania and Puglia. According to tradition, the calzone should be filled with typical pizza ingredients, such as tomato, mozzarella, and sometimes anchovies or capers. The pan-fried version is particularly appreciated for its crispy crust and the possibility of preparing it without using an oven.