Calzones are delicious Italian turnovers. They are made with pizza dough and typically the same toppings that you would find on a pizza but in a calzone we add ricotta cheese and an egg. Here’s how to make it.
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Ingredients for Spinach Artichoke Calzone
Spinach
You can use either fresh or frozen, both work just fine as long as they are both chopped. The recipe calls for 1 cup. I use frozen so if you are using fresh you may want to do 1 1/2 cups.
Artichoke Hearts
I use canned artichoke hearts in water, not oil but for this recipe either one would work. I drain the artichoke hearts from the water and chop them up. Did you know, that artichokes are known to be the vegetable with the most antioxidants in them? Artichoke are also a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus and have lots of vitamin K and some vitamin C. Artichokes are a part of the sunflower family.




Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is the base of the filling. I love the texture of baked ricotta cheese. Ricotta is a soft, creamy cheese that spreads so perfectly. Its made from the whey leftover when making hard cheeses such as mozzarella or cheddar. These cheese is low in fat and rich in phosphorus and vitamin B12.
Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella cheese is considered a hard cheese. When melted it will stick to the other ingredients and hold them together as they cool down again. Mozzarella wont only work as an binding agent but also adds a nice salty flavor and cheesy texture to our calzones.




Garlic and Italian Seasoning and Salt
All of these ingredients add a huge amount of flavor but they also have great health benefits. Garlic is an antibiotic, helping build up our immune system and fight colds and viruses. Italian herbs such as basil, sage, thyme and oregano all have antioxidants, help build up the immune system, are heart healthy and even some regulate hormones and more. Salt is essential to our taste buds and also our body’s health and function with its sodium electrolytes and all.
An Egg
We just need one eggs. This egg will help the filling bind together so when you cut or bite into your calzone the filling don’t fall out. I also you a second egg for an egg wash, this is optional.
How to Make A Calzone
Step One: Make Pizza Dough
I make my pizza dough from scratch but you can also buy pizza dough for your local grocery store or even some pizzeria’s just sell dough. Click here for my pizza dough recipe.


Step Two: Mix Filling Ingredients
Mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, egg, chopped spinach, chopped artichokes, garlic, seasoning, salt… mix it all in a bowl!
Step Three: Roll Dough Out
Roll the dough out just like pizza dough. You can even do the little throw in the air trick if you are that cool. Before placing the filling on make sure you place some parchment paper under the dough.



Step Four: Spoon Filling and Fold
Spoon the filling on the to dough leaving about an inch of room to seal. When the filling is on fold over the dough onto the filling. Pinch the edge a little and roll or twist the edge all the way around.
Step Five: Cut Steam Hole and Bake
Cut five steam holes on the top of the dough. At this point you can cover with and egg wash, it is optional. Now bake for 15 minutes at 500 degrees.








Spinach & Artichoke Ricotta Calzone
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- 1 cup chopped artichoke hearts
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make Pizza/Calzone Crust.
- Mix together in a bowl, chopped artichokes, chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg, salt, garlic and the Italian seasoning.
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
- Roll out dough in a circle like you would pizza dough and place parchment paper underneath.
- Spoon the filling on the half, one side, of the dough. Leaving 3/4 inch from rim.
- Fold over the dough on top of the filling. Push down on the edges to seal and twist and fold the edge into the calzone creating a swirly crust.
- Egg wash the top and cut 5 steam holes on the top of the calzone.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 500 degrees.
Notes
IMPORTANT, The pizza dough makes 4 calzones while the filling only fills 2. This is because my kids and I like verity. In other words, they like pepperoni and I like spinach. To make a pepperoni calzone just though some pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni inside the calzone.
I also have an Mushroom and Onion Calzone Recipe and a Dessert Calzone Recipe.
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