How to Make and Fold a Calzone

A calzone is a folded pizza, usually shaped like a half-moon and stuffed with cheese and possibly vegetables, meat, and/or sauce and it can be baked or fried. It is often served with marinara or pizza sauce on the side. The dough used is a yeasted bread or pizza dough, so the first step is to prep your dough.

Make pizza dough from scratch or use one that is store-bought. You can also use whole wheat dough, or dough flavored with herbs or other seasonings. Either way, let it sit at room...MORE temperature for a half-hour to an hour in an oiled bowl loosely covered with a towel.

While you wait for your dough to rise, you can prepare the filling. Classically, calzones are filled with cheese--usually a soft cheese like ricotta--along with mozzarella. Then other fillings are also added!

Other Filling Ideas!

• Ham and Provolone Cheese
• Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese
• Sausage and Pepperoni
• Spinach and Sauteed Garlic

After the veggies and/or meats are cooked, mix them together with the cheeses and any seasonings you like. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 500ºF. If you're using a pizza...MORE stone, place it in the cold oven and heat it as the oven heats.

After the dough has risen, punch it down and then divide it into two balls. Place one ball onto a well-floured surface. Stretch or roll the dough out to a oval or circle. It should be about 1/4" to 1/2" thick and about 10" to 12" in diameter. Repeat with the other ball.

Place half the filling onto one side of each dough-round, leaving about 1" space around the edge.

For each calzone, lift the side of the dough without filling and gently pull it across to the other side, creating a half-moon shape over the filling. With wet hands, press the edges shut, or use a fork to crimp. Place calzones onto cornmeal-sprinkled baking sheet, or pizza peel, if using a pizza stone.

If using a pizza peel and stone,transfer calzones to pizza stone. Or, place baking sheet into oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until dough is golden brown in spots. Remove from oven and serve with your favorite marinara or pizza sauce.

If you want, you can also try deep-frying your calzone, a regional specialty made in Puglia called Panzerotti, although they are usually made with a thinner dough and somewhat smaller. It's similar to deep-fried pizza.