Description
This easy calzone recipe offers a delicious homemade Italian favorite featuring a crispy golden dough filled with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fragrant basil leaves. Perfect as a quick dinner or snack, the calzone balances simple, fresh ingredients with straightforward preparation and baking.
Ingredients
Scale
Calzone Dough
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 tsp yeast
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Calzone Margarita Filling
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the calzones evenly and creating a golden, crispy crust.
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the yeast and sugar with warm water. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes bubbly and frothy, which indicates the yeast is active and ready.
- Prepare Dough: Combine the activated yeast mixture with the flour, kosher salt, and olive oil to make the dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, then divide the dough into 4-6 pieces depending on your preferred calzone size.
- Roll Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a circle roughly 6-8 inches in diameter.
- Add Fillings: On one half of each dough circle, layer the sliced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and sliced mozzarella cheese, distributing evenly.
- Seal Calzone: Carefully fold the other half of the dough circle over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press and pinch the edges firmly to seal the calzone and prevent fillings from leaking during baking.
- Bake: Place the sealed calzones on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven at 450°F for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and cooked through.
Notes
- Use warm water around 100°F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Customize fillings with your favorite vegetables, meats, or cheeses if desired.
- Brush calzone edges lightly with olive oil or egg wash before baking for a shinier crust.
- Allow dough to rest and rise for 30 minutes if time allows for a fluffier texture.
- Serve warm and enjoy with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
Keywords: calzone recipe, easy calzone, homemade calzone, Italian calzone, mozzarella, basil, tomato calzone