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Stuffed Calzones

17/11/2023

The stuffed calzone is a real delight of Italian cuisine. It’s a bit like a folded-over pizza stuffed with fillings. Traditionally, it is made with a dough similar to pizza dough and can be filled with a variety of ingredients. Here’s a classic recipe for a stuffed calzone:

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 500 g of type “00” flour
  • 300 ml of lukewarm water
  • 25 g of fresh yeast (or 7 g of dry yeast)
  • 10 g of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

For the filling:

  • 250 g of mozzarella (preferably fiordilatte), diced
  • 150 g of cooked ham, diced
  • 100 g of ricotta
  • Tomato sauce, as needed
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • A pinch of oregano
  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, to your liking

Preparation

  1. Begin by preparing the dough: dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water and pour it into a bowl with the flour. Add the oil and the salt and start kneading until you have a smooth and elastic mixture.
  2. Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with a damp cloth. Let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until its volume has doubled.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the filling by mixing the mozzarella, cooked ham, and ricotta. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano.
  4. Preheat the oven to 220 °C.
  5. After the dough has risen, roll it out into disks about 20 cm in diameter. Spread a spoonful of tomato sauce in the center of each disk, then add some of the mozzarella, ham, and ricotta filling. Sprinkle with a bit of grated cheese.
  6. Fold the dough over the filling to make a half-moon shape and seal the edges well by pressing with your fingers or using a fork.
  7. Place the calzones on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, make small cuts on top to let the steam escape, and bake them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  8. Take the calzones out of the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

The calzone originated in Campania, and its fried version, typical of Naples, is famous all over the world. Let’s not forget the variant from Puglia, where the calzone is enriched with ingredients like onions and olives. You can customize the filling of your calzone according to your taste, or take inspiration from regional recipes to discover new flavors!

Stuffed Calzones