Sausage Broccoli Calzone Recipes

CALZONES STUFFED WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• For the calzone dough: In a small bowl, combine the yeast and sugar and whisk together with the warm water. Let sit for 15 minutes; when the water looks frothy and smells very yeasty, it's ready.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add the flours and salt. Pour in the yeast-water mixture and the olive oil. Mix to combine on medium speed. When a dough ball has formed, continue to knead until the dough is tight and not at all sticky, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Lightly oil a mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm place to let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch the dough down and let it rise again for 30 to 40 minutes. During the last rise, make the filling.
• For the broccoli rabe and sausage filling: Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil and prepare a well-salted ice bath. Toss the broccoli rabe in the boiling water, swish around and then remove to the ice bath. Let cool and then coarsely chop.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring to a medium heat. Add in the sausage and chop it up with the edge of large kitchen spoon. Cook until the sausage is brown and crumbled. Stir in the broccoli rabe and remove from the heat. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and stir in the ricotta and Parmesan. Taste to make sure it is delicious and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To assemble: Once the dough is rested, divide the dough into nine 2-inch balls. (Save 3 of the balls for another purpose.) On a lightly floured work surface, roll the 6 dough balls into 8-inch circles that are about 1/4-inch thick.
• Place about 3/4 cup of the filling on the bottom half of a dough circle. Brush the bottom half edge of the circle with the egg wash. Fold the top half of the circle over to ALMOST meet the bottom edge of the dough. Fold the bottom edge of the dough over the top edge and crimp it shut. Brush the top of the dough with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Repeat this process with rest of the dough and filling.
• Place the filled calzones on sheet trays and bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature with tomato sauce if desired.

SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLINI PIZZA POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To a medium skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat until it begins to shimmer. Then add the sausage, cooking and breaking it up into crumbles with a wooden spoon until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool slightly.
• Add the garlic to the skillet. Stir to combine, being careful not to burn it (reduce the heat if necessary). When the garlic is fragrant and just translucent, add the broccolini and toss to coat in the garlic and olive oil. Cook until just tender, about 7 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, to the medium bowl with the cooked sausage, add the mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest and black and crushed red pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
• Divide the pizza dough into four equal parts and roll into balls. On a lightly floured work surface, flatten them into circles, about 1/4 inch thick. Spread them each with one-quarter of the cheese mixture, sausage and broccolini, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Fold them in half to make a calzone shape, pinch the edges to seal and then transfer the pizza pockets to a pizza peel, pizza stone or baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake until lightly browned on top, 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve with warm marinara sauce.

BROCCOLI, PEPPERONI AND THREE CHEESE CALZONES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, proof the yeast by blending it with 1/4 cup of the warm water. Let stand until it bubbles.
• In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Blend in the one tablespoon of olive oil by rubbing the mixture between the palms of your hands. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Add proofed yeast mixture and work in by hand. Gradually add the remaining warm water. Blend well and gather into a ball.
• Place one teaspoon of olive oil on a wooden board. Knead dough on board until smooth. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
• Meanwhile, prepare calzone filling: separate the broccoli tops from the stalks. Soak in cool water with 1 teaspoon salt for 15 minutes. Rinse in cool water. Cook in a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain well and chop into small pieces. Place in large bowl with provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, pepperoni, olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper.
• Punch down dough and knead for one minute. Divide into six equal pieces. On a floured board, roll each section into a 8x10 inch rectangle.
• In a small bowl combine the beaten egg and water. On the long side of the dough, place 2/3 cup filling in a strip one inch away from the edges of the dough. Flatten the filling with a spoon. Brush egg mixture over edges of dough. Fold the dough over the filling. Fold edges under 1/4 inch. Seal edges.
• Sprinkle two 12x16 inch baking pans with cornmeal. Place three calzones on each baking pan. Brush remaining egg mixture on top of calzones. Prick tops of calzones with toothpick, making holes 1/2 inch apart on top of dough.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot or cold.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE CALZONE

Steps:

• Unroll pizza dough onto an ungreased baking sheet; pat into a 14x11-in. rectangle. Spread pizza sauce over 1 long side of dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. , Layer the spinach, sausage, mushrooms and cheese over sauce. Fold dough over filling; pinch seams to seal. , Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Freeze option: Freeze cooled unsliced calzone in a freezer container. To use, place calzone on an ungreased baking sheet, cover with foil and reheat in a preheated 375° oven 10 minutes. Uncover; bake until heated through.

BROCCOLI AND CHEESE CALZONE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella and broccoli. Mix well. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Roll dough out to a 12-inch circle. Spread cheese filling over 1 side of circle, to within 1-inch of the edge. Lift 1 side of dough and fold over so that it meets the other side, forming a half moon, and pinch the edges together to seal.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Transfer calzone to a large baking sheet sprinkle the top with cheese. Bake 15 minutes, until puffed up golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.