Calzone is an Italian oven baked folded pizza. It is a combination of a pizza and a sandwich. Traditionally calzone is made using a pizza dough and for stuffing Mozzarella cheese, ricotta or parmesan cheese and veggies are used. In this recipe, I have used whole wheat flour to make a pizza dough. It is a healthier recipe than the traditional , as the outer cover has whole wheat flour and stuffing is rich in nutrients. Spinach , corn and mushrooms make the calzone tastier as well as healthier. Adding vegan cream cheese makes it creamy. Enjoy these healthy and tasty Calzones as your lunch, snack or dinner.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| For making dough:- | |
| Whole Wheat flour | 3 Cups |
| Active dry yeast | 1 Tbsp |
| Sugar | 2 Tbsp |
| Salt | 2 Tsp |
| Warm water | 1 and ¼ Cup |
| Red Chili flakes | 1 Tsp |
| Extra-virgin olive oil | 1 Tbsp |
| Italian seasoning | 1 Tsp |
| Fresh Oregano | 3-4 leaves |
| Fresh rosemary | 5-6 strands |
| For making the Stuffing:- | |
| Mushrooms | 2 Cups |
| Spinach | 2 Cups |
| Fresh or frozen corn | 1 Cup |
| Garlic | 2 Tbsp |
| Italian seasoning | ½ Tbsp |
| Salt | As per taste |
| Chili flakes | ½ Tbsp |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp |
Recipe:
- To a mixing bowl add whole wheat flour, sugar and yeast
- Mix all the ingredients and add salt, red chili flakes, dry or fresh Italian herbs
- Add warm water and knead a soft dough with hands or by using a stand mixer
- If you are using a stand mixer, knead a dough for 6-7 minutes
- If you are kneading a dough with hands, knead for about 10-12 minutes
- Add extra-virgin Olive oil with spoon intermittently
- Cover the dough and let it sit for an hour in a warm place
For making the stuffing:
- Heat a pan
- Add oil
- Add crushed or finely chopped garlic
- Add Corn and spinach
- Add salt, chili flakes and Italian seasoning
- Add mushrooms and cook the mixture for a few seconds
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool down completely
- Once the mixture cools down it is optional to add Vegan cream cheese
For making Calzones:
- Preheat the oven at 450 degree Fahrenheit or 225 degree Celsius
- Punch the fermented dough gently
- Divide the dough in equal portions
- Roll each portion to make 4-5 inch circles about ½ inch thick
- Stuff the vegetable mixture on one side of circle and cover the other side of circle to make a semi-circle
- You may also stuff the mixture in the center and fold from four sides to make a rectangular calzone
- Close and seal the edges using a fork
- Transfer the calzones in a baking tray lined with a parchment paper
- Make slanting cuts on the top of each Calzone
- Brush extra-virgin olive oil on the top of each Calzone
- Bake the Calzones for about 15-20 minutes or till they become golden and crispy on both sides
- Serve hot Calzones with marinara sauce or your favorite sauce
Tip:
- You may use readymade pizza dough for making Calzones
- You may use vegetables of your choice
- You may use unbleached all-purpose flour to replace Whole wheat flour
- Do not roll the dough very thin or else the stuffing will come outside
- Bake until you get golden crust on both sides of Calzones
- Marinara sauce can be made by using:
- 2 cups of crushed tomatoes,¼ cup of chopped onions, 1 tbsp of crushed garlic, ½ tbsp of black pepper powder, 1 tsp of chili flakes, Italian seasoning and salt to taste
- Add a tablespoon of Olive oil and add all the ingredients one by one and cook the mixture for about 8-10 minutes or till it becomes thick
And It's Vegan Too! 